Commissioners hear jail request for funds to build walk-in freezer

Wahkiakum county Commissioners met on the third floor of the courthouse to conduct the people’s business.

They allowed the Wahkiakum 4-H Leaders Council to close the covered bridge and approach for a fundraising dinner during the annual Columbia River Country Days.

Jail Commander Joannie Kuhlmeyer asked for permission to search for bids to build a walk-in freezer at the courthouse. The jail serves frozen meals prepared by the Washington Department of Corrections. Recently the minimum order has increased to $2,200 which is approximately 53 cubic feet of product. The freezer would help store the increased amount of frozen meals.

The Columbia Land Trust submitted an application to change the classification of a parcel of land along the Grays River from farm land to open space land. The commissioners agreed that the 23 acre parcel which is currently open to the public would benefit from redesignation. The county would also benefit financially because the land trust would pay more taxes than when the parcel was agricultural land.

Finally, the commissioners approved Frix Technologies to help the county digitize their records and to train staff in digital scanning techniques. The project will be funded by the Department of Health’s foundational public health services fund.