County board supports PUD water fund application

Wahkiakum County commissioners started April with a light agenda for their meeting Tuesday.

Commissioners approved a request from Wahkiakum PUD to write letters of support for a PUD application for funding to assist in water main improvements on Puget Island.

PUD General Manager Dan Kay said the plan is to connect two dead end mains to other mains to form loops.

That would allow the water crew to isolate an area needing repair or other work and maintain service to customers, he said.

One of the dead end lines is on Little Island; the other is on Crossdike Road.

The PUD will be back seeking more support for water system work, added PUD Commissioner Dennis Reid.

"We're getting something ready for Deep River," Reid said, speaking of plans to extend the Western Wahkiakum Water System to the west side of Deep River.

"I don't want you to think we're ignoring that."

In other business:

--Commissioners approved recommendations from Engineer Paul Lacy to issue requests for engineering firms to submit qualifications for design of a new bridge over Wilson Creek and to approve a contract for road side mowing with the past contractor, Bush Whacker, LLC, for $66,422.

--The board approved the recommendation of Treasurer Tammy Peterson to divide the PUD Privilege Tax according to formula, with $47,765 going to the county and $5,553 to the Town of Cathlamet.

--The board also approved a resolution allocating $4,000 to the Wahkiakum County Historical Society, which had requested county support for flooring improvements.

--The commission recessed the meeting; they'll reconvene this afternoon (Thursday) at 3 p.m. for discussions with staff of the Washington State Association of Counties. The session will be carried on the county's Zoom platform.