[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6355109,"mediaKeyId","2219254-ec48b8b14fa6f042957f57335a6975e0","parentId",2219254,"title","Cowlitz County schedules March bid for failing Garlock Road culvert; project 85% funded by fish-passage program","audioSeconds",73,"startMs",821000,"endMs",894000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219254-ec48b8b14fa6f042957f57335a6975e0&start=821&end=894","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219254-ec48b8b14fa6f042957f57335a6975e0/thumbnail_821000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6355109/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-schedules-March-bid-for-failing-Garlock-Road-culvert-project-85-funded-by-fish-passage-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355109-129f238b73f09b2b3391b213bac25699/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145915&Signature=IDuxokhtZdt8UCUtnw-NixuSOUEsg~eVmQ0tUlYfJVsXP7tqTIBfonJVSRkbAbk6pvU6FpDSB6KgMWd10kwFj6irJUF7slUXv8JIM6Dw4rMBMDYG1mdOuGvEOf8Uk~BeTsJwW8U~5DlIdCycQK6bCQHO1ySXMNvCIN9mEWyQMcWJtbzxZjJuzDGPSShTyWw-oqQPHEWa8eC5NKXM3SwSRelrFI5maKJdIJzonB2K3JKB2DXGbO9H7ydFSiQlvIMQEWlwX8VZOWHANE-E8Wr1Gd1qppS6xJkif9f3LaJ9v1PS9pkWmKpbKZNODhPSLMdPzwiNIEIhuSj50NYbr-91~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-02-04T23:56:57Z","article","Cowlitz County staff told commissioners the Garlock Road culvert is failing and that the county plans to advertise the replacement for bid in March; staff said the project is approximately 85% funded by fish-passage funding.

During the discussion a staff member on the phone confirmed, \"We're looking at a March bid. We did not do a traffic count out there. It is a failing culvert and the project is 85% funded by a fish barrier passage move,\" and later explained that a \"failing culvert\" generally means the structure has holes (if metal) or spalling (if concrete) or has become undersized.

Commissioners asked for the engineer’s estimate and a traffic count; staff said the engineer’s estimate was not available at the meeting and that they would follow up with the requested cost information. A commissioner noted interest in whether repairs rather than full replacement might be appropriate in some cases and suggested follow-up conversations with the Department of Ecology and wildlife representatives on fish-habitat questions.

No formal vote on the Garlock Road project was recorded at this meeting; it was discussed as an item in the consent discussion and flagged for further information prior to bidding.

Staff next steps: provide commissioners the engineer’s cost estimate and any traffic-count data prior to the March bid, and coordinate follow-up briefings with Ecology and wildlife staff as requested by commissioners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday Regular Public Meeting 2.4.2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff said the Garlock Road culvert is failing and that the project is expected to go to bid in March; staff did not have an engineer’s estimate or a traffic count available at the meeting and said the project is 85% funded by a fish barrier/passage program.","taxTitle","Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",5122,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6355114,"Cowlitz County signs letter supporting Comcast Xfinity broadband grant application for unserved, underserved areas",474,337000,811000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219254-ec48b8b14fa6f042957f57335a6975e0&start=337&end=811","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219254-ec48b8b14fa6f042957f57335a6975e0/thumbnail_337000.jpg","/articles/6355114/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-signs-letter-supporting-Comcast-Xfinity-broadband-grant-application-for-unserved-underserved-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355114-018f43228a51a92bb8786543b6d6c914/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145915&Signature=ThSMh5q~GTMPwSqXdwlSiw9LRNV-YIn3RK6uB1QiSgWt0mGsDf7MJv2uN-xnhsyKKH-qAEEN2-ltv2YLVUDQBE68uk6NRDBr6eXpKqwKh9qu7NzYuWkl-wuFZfzsk2eEySTcOWZI6ieGdaTXw74KGmwI2L4D1aHqkzSNgIINOAVB9~Kvcef-WGIki1l5djfcW8BmZX1gNLFZ9jXqcYUUG8ywgdwSPF57TLAS7MBYm2gfMHsM5uIRrYsjghYo~Y-vdFEidufueBMV2-3mdzKbxZKzFDgM9g8n1uOYS-ct~a1mlLzlG1RKnTvD88-FPb4rAhsEEsW9Cc~HjFhCdvPOpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cowlitz County commissioners approved consent agenda items that included a letter from the Washington State Broadband Office supporting Comcast Xfinity’s efforts to apply for grant funding to extend Internet service to unserved and underserved households in the county.

During discussion, a commissioner asked whether the broadband support represents a county grant or program. County staff explained the broadband effort is federal grant-funded and that the letter is intended to support Comcast Xfinity’s application; staff said they were not aware of county funds being used for the project. \"My understanding on this, the letter that we received, with regards for approval was that Xfinity was… applying for a grant, and they wanted to use us as leverage,\" a commissioner said.

Commissioners also noted the county maintains a broadband committee that previously awarded funds and that providers must be willing to extend service into rural areas for federal funding to be effective. The item was listed in correspondence within the consent agenda; the board approved the consent agenda as presented.

No specific county financial commitment was described at the meeting. Staff said the state broadband office and federal programs are the source of grant funds and that local provider participation is required for deployment to remote areas.","The board approved consent items that included a letter from the Washington State Broadband Office supporting Comcast Xfinity’s grant application to extend service to unserved and underserved households; commissioners discussed the program but did not authorize county funding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6355117,"Cowlitz County approves ARPA-funded replacement of nearly 1,000 water meters, awards bid to Correct Equipment",710,1014000,1724000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219254-ec48b8b14fa6f042957f57335a6975e0&start=1014&end=1724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219254-ec48b8b14fa6f042957f57335a6975e0/thumbnail_1014000.jpg","/articles/6355117/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-approves-ARPA-funded-replacement-of-nearly-1000-water-meters-awards-bid-to-Correct-Equipment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355117-e3f25e76b133a1b4668af11d6080c3e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145915&Signature=aOhVKW7Cfv65fICX6FzPmraqNu6GvVZr2H8tUL~NZMNRN68IEIpbtogQepmVfTGJRW7WAjaBjzf5JX-l6aYlZAYlOvhJ9~nQWDCpQcNAeQ5rH4~7cENX4qwoAW55nEJcIh8vQSNn4EdPoOs6Q3D--K~80X4OXxsAmOc-tmLd4v-IGoMRRFzeko2LRJp6BmtQCji9HiyZC8UwyI5gSzKX~AhqGP64DVagQoXcxmfgnJXjVo0cB6Am78yPuZl0T7nTVJi22zEvKCwqMOocLP3FHiY0b4J0AVqdevH5dV9ks8uHv~y1pWsLLi9Bl-v7c8CB-NgGVTqaKcSyZMj-OdGh8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a bid award to Correct Equipment for equipment to upgrade the county’s residential water meters, a project county staff said covers roughly 1,000 meters and is funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) eligible dollars.

Savannah Clement, with Cowlitz County Public Services, told the board the county solicited proposals to replace aging meters and selected Correct Equipment as the highest-scoring respondent. \"It was the highest scoring company,\" Clement said, adding the bid line shown to the board for equipment was $425,567 but that number may be reduced because the vendor can adapt some existing meters rather than replace every unit.

Clement said the project will replace “almost all of our meters” for residential customers and add automatic meter-reading (AMR) components. The county expects the AMR readers to reduce reliance on a contracted manual meter-reading service and to provide more frequent reads for faster leak detection. Under the county’s current system, staff said, a leak might not be identified for 30 to 45 days; Clement said the AMR system will allow drive-by reads several times a month and earlier alerts to customers.

Travis (public services staff) described vendor warranty expectations and upgrade strategy, saying the selected meters are designed so that the component most likely to wear can be replaced without replacing the entire mechanical meter. \"The life expectancy of a meter will go for a long time. It's the accuracy in which you're reading that consumption,\" Travis said, and he explained the chosen approach is intended to reduce future mismatches in meter brands and parts.

Commissioners questioned the need for AMR and raised concerns about contractors and meter longevity. Commissioner Dahl noted skepticism about private contractors’ performance and asked whether the AMR system would detect leaks in near real time; Clement answered that readings are collected by drive-by radio frequency and can be downloaded frequently so customers could see consumption “sometimes within days, instead of a month and a half.”

The board approved the motion to award the bid to Correct Equipment. Clement said the final contract price will be reflected when the contract is returned for execution, and staff will follow up with Department of Health guidance on meter replacement timelines as requested by a commissioner.

Votes at a glance: Motion to award bid to Correct Equipment for water meter equipment — outcome: approved (roll-call not recorded on transcript; vocal approvals recorded as \"Aye\").

Background: Clement said about two-thirds of the county’s current meters are more than 10 years old and that the Department of Health offers replacement guidance; the county intends to retrofit meters that were replaced within the last three to five years by fitting adapters rather than replacing those entire meters. Staff said the switch to AMR is expected to reduce operating costs (staff noted an estimated $18,000 a year the county had been paying for manual reader errors) and to add a customer-facing portal so residents can check consumption more frequently.

Staff next steps: County staff will return with the contract for execution with a more precise purchase price and will provide additional documentation on Department of Health guidance and the vendor warranty terms.","The Board of County Commissioners approved a bid award to Correct Equipment for equipment to upgrade the county’s aging residential water meters with AMR-enabled components; the project is intended to improve leak detection and meter-read accuracy and is funded with ARPA-eligible money.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cowlitz County schedules March bid for failing Garlock Road culvert; project 85% funded by fish-passage program

Cowlitz County signs letter supporting Comcast Xfinity broadband grant application for unserved, underserved areas

Cowlitz County approves ARPA-funded replacement of nearly 1,000 water meters, awards bid to Correct Equipment