Commissioners hear concerns about development

Dan Cothren presided over the weekly commissioners meeting with the other two commissioners attending via zoom. In the public comment portion of the meeting a Westend resident expressed concern about new development on Altoona-Pillar Rock Rd. She said that a homeowner had counted seven vacation rentals on the road, leading to increased traffic. The homeowner was concerned that publicity about the road would further increase traffic. This started a wide ranging debate about timber companies selling land for development, new home projects not conforming to code, and driveways too steep for emergency services.

Ron Wright, mentor for the Mecha Mules robotics club stopped by to show off the club's first place trophy from the SeaPearch international robotics competition. The council voted unanimously to endorse a letter of support for Energy Northwest to develop a network of charging stations on the Olympic peninsula, including a charging station at the PUD parking lot in Cathlamet. Finally, the commissioners approved the $87,936 bid of Conframe construction for construction projects at the Health and Human Services campus.