[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6323443,"mediaKeyId","2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e","parentId",2342420,"title","Resident urges investigation into truck speeds, threats and easement disputes near Mount St. Helens retreat","audioSeconds",1594,"startMs",4980000,"endMs",6574000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e&start=4980&end=6574","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e/thumbnail_4980000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6323443/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Resident-urges-investigation-into-truck-speeds-threats-and-easement-disputes-near-Mount-St-Helens-retreat","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323443-87ba60a2bdf65f99c1dc04b55e3117e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773665633&Signature=mAIzdHaQ4s6zcWREudhlrjc0r83b1MWKXEWx5etBFLXMQtV6oJ0~1Qj2hIZ1kokEwXX-YDSDec5PY0VhpZpAoreScqQyJTtCMFZFblEasILALZjMVBFel0y-9qd88dnqEeJDhtQo7oM5tD4TdmlC7Y0~KCAY4YI1tnmcXN2ffCEAPPwkWiLtZo6~hvvEMaih7gqXsqjpJTh-YL2zyrXbbTN062k5Ulq~G13l0yY1N9XAZtj2qRpYF856zshgR5PR5bbtDuGEjNwtzO5UgOUEYrJYXpjm0zfka3jjGqgdUwLrl8sDfMcoZJNXKrsBSIvPADZW2irH7egXa5n4sIngcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-02-18T19:29:11Z","article","A long-time resident of the Elk Run/Mount St. Helens retreat area addressed the Board of County Commissioners to report repeated unsafe driving by log trucks, alleged theft of posted signs, and a confrontation during which he said a truck “almost ran me over” while he was on his own property.

Kerry Hargan told the board he and neighbors have experienced speeding log trucks, dust problems and what he described as hostile behavior from drivers and a warehouse contractor. He said he posted speed-and-dust signs on the private easement that serves several residences, and that some signs were stolen; he said he reported an incident to the sheriff’s department and that the deputy questioned him about vehicle ownership instead of immediately pursuing the driver.

Hargan described one encounter in which “he acted like he is going to go on by me,” then said the truck driver “tried to run me over” while Hargan was on his property; he said he later learned drivers were broadcasting radio chatter that he was “packing a gun” and that one worker said over the radio, “if I see him pull me out there, I'm gonna run him over.” Hargan asked commissioners to investigate and said he felt bullied by the private contractor (Weyerhaeuser) and by law enforcement’s response.

Commissioners and staff told Hargan the board’s direct powers are limited: the board cannot direct the sheriff’s department or the state to take specific actions but can pass on residents’ concerns and ask county staff to research options. One commissioner recommended making sure county clerks have the resident’s contact information so staff can follow up and, where appropriate, help coordinate next steps.

The resident said the road segment in question is a private easement used for timber and recreational access, that he and other landowners each own a portion to the centerline, and that speed and dust problems on the short stretch of road have worsened in the past year. Hargan asked whether an easement can be revoked in cases of abuse; a commissioner noted landowners cannot lawfully landlock a property but suggested civil remedies may be available and recommended consulting an attorney.

Commissioners asked staff to record Hargan’s contact information and to look into what county offices can do to assist; they noted any enforcement action on criminal threats or dangerous driving would come through the sheriff’s office.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday Public Meeting - 02.18.2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Mount St. Helens-area resident told the commissioners he was threatened and chased by a log truck on a private easement used by Weyerhaeuser contractors and asked county officials to investigate unsafe driving, property-rights and alleged harassment; commissioners noted their limited authority over law enforcement.","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},6323448,"County awards Tudo wastewater improvement bid and expands construction inspection services",156,1304000,1460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e&start=1304&end=1460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e/thumbnail_1304000.jpg","/articles/6323448/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-awards-Tudo-wastewater-improvement-bid-and-expands-construction-inspection-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323448-1f419a069bc443bfe55cfb2a7784f61a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773665633&Signature=Q6f3cbncWcKbmHkEk4EQWN~GNGHpe0sQB8JM8jl-8eaakXu3tfoki6zSGgHPAd3aargZ0gi7dn7ANwrb8LDtQhv7XtDgf5lKAXJdtLnwaxYEjK3EoSnBjanFnSVfm6J64qD8YQ83qLNt2rwZmjWP8quiu7M39EVmdO3OtR4BRNhL-UBjtRHJ66DQuCqYD6XD13v6IvK8GrnmdfDCDdsoPHAqlcxrvPFxAxoNF8dw0r14DiE2ZVAGc-KuxK5y9XBQDebIVbTuKavvc6tf3ae3z84fvcsShQNGArxQSJLf8rZ4SGKFkgg~eD75Ib1mVunIuKy0iSP3sQkD2CUPoKH9gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cowlitz County Public Works recommended awarding the Tudo wastewater treatment plant improvement project to the low bidder and approved an amendment to add construction inspection services.

County Engineer Susan Eugenis reported the low bid for the Tudo project came in considerably under the engineer’s estimate and that the county received eight bids when the county opened submissions on Feb. 5. She recommended awarding the project to the lowest responsible bidder, TAPNI Incorporated, and the board approved the award by voice vote.

Eugenis also described Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement with Gibson & Olson to add construction inspection and engineering services during the project. She said the county frequently amends design-phase contracts to add construction-phase inspection services but that in this instance the county requested “extensive, daily inspections” because staff do not consider their inspection group to be specialists on the mechanical equipment involved and because the county has a heavy construction schedule this summer. The board approved the amendment by voice vote.

The board chair noted the low bid was about $92,000 below the engineer’s estimate and commissioners voted to move forward. Public Works staff said the county will provide a formal award letter and related contract documents following the administrative process.","Public Works recommended awarding the low bid for the Tudo wastewater treatment plant improvement project and approved an amendment to add daily construction inspection and engineering services for the project to the Gibbs & Olson contract.",{"_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},6323452,"County approves coordinated-entry contracts, commissioners debate centralized intake and outreach",218,2660000,2878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e&start=2660&end=2878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e/thumbnail_2660000.jpg","/articles/6323452/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-approves-coordinated-entry-contracts-commissioners-debate-centralized-intake-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323452-39f3782f40be094b246ac2cac466db14/orig.mp4?Expires=1773665633&Signature=PBdLNReJmGytFDDM-viZsGztMs-gF9MX1YcY3XqvmiqvI4gbuPxNceAwriqvIzUU1KB-KtipaannEV-H3qHUgxC6pwi9JVF6KKyOT7dO7ZsMRfaNgjNYEl-~xUwrJGVNGma3TwXAz11ZZucS4kT5WV4dLiyXxg8D7EDPE-iU7bT3~YfNX83GGIkfj4m88pJhVNHiMjjGdmBXZbRgkUVx~o2ZEdw6qOI8~V26yVMlm0Je2Dam66cGBlX9-z-shSkaQQ~pNeMX4CLZeMDf71ovIio6xAk0KO9yqqYfN1ZWw~4n-OM-DWolugfZ~1I7oSlXw2xkoTJNJ2t0xq4MYWQvSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners voted to renew one-year agreements for coordinated entry services with Community House on Broadway, Emergency Support Shelter, and Cowlitz Family Health Center.

Gina James, director of Health and Human Services, told the board the three agencies are the county’s longstanding partners for coordinated entry. “We see anywhere from a thousand to 1,200 people that connect with coordinated entry,” James said, adding that staff collect more in-depth information for about 800 of those people each year and that roughly 10% of those screened receive housing referrals in a given year. “When we look at the actual referrals to housing, it's about 10% of that depending on the projects,” she said.

James described coordinated entry as a “screening process” that gathers standardized information—such as income, veteran status and household composition—and inputs it into the Homeless Management Information System so agencies can identify applicants who match openings in housing projects. She said the coordinated-entry partners also provide mainstream resource referrals for food, transportation, clothing, behavioral health and other supports.

The board’s discussion grew into a broader debate about whether coordinated entry should include a centralized, professionally staffed intake to better identify needs such as mental-health or substance-use disorders. One commissioner said the county had operated a single, centralized intake hub in the past but shifted to multiple agency intake locations; he argued a centralized professional assessment could reduce duplication and improve outcomes. James replied that some partner agencies (community house, family health center) already offer behavioral health services and that coordinated entry aims primarily to collect the information needed for targeted housing referrals rather than to substitute for a full clinical assessment.

Commissioners and staff also discussed outreach and retention challenges for people who are unsheltered. James said coordinated entry encourages clients to check back every 90 days and that partner agencies and outreach teams (for example, Family Health Center’s outreach) sometimes help locate people when referrals open.

After discussion, the board voted to approve all three coordinated-entry contracts. Gina James said the agreements are primarily reimbursed with a Department of Commerce grant and that staff expect to include other partners (such as CAP) in ongoing conversations about service coverage and referrals.","Cowlitz County approved three one-year contracts to continue coordinated entry services with Community House on Broadway, Emergency Support Shelter, and Cowlitz Family Health Center; commissioners and staff discussed program reach, referral rates, and whether intake should be centralized with professional assessments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6323457,"Cowlitz County proclaims February teen dating violence awareness month and approves $150,000 shelter contract",362,116000,478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e&start=116&end=478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342420-987a48bb746892743828e3b47eca8d8e/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6323457/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-proclaims-February-teen-dating-violence-awareness-month-and-approves-150000-shelter-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323457-c80400a2138bfd94d825be539f1e682a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773665633&Signature=Mp68AmO6f5pzIQ-WRbuB5M6Lk2-yOYo30GUzNTMnMwMo~2un5jMY9jEERNwPLptDFo~QalgykZHB1mUSV4KWRWOschqr9zdNobiUlUsmkYQdsweUQC88H5iAPCDdUqWML18wgY0MXKqXeKb16kxdFNFlwRnZUfeS-NMMjHxwaDM21UKKcVnYCMtahIRDluE6x2m2aBsLnqZMzjiBTs5wapG4i3LY0sxGpA4G6uXPIIcIlk9uKFDYXNppj~5Bxs3uJSt77kqTQjXqsaDUijHAK044mbmOHFEVQopMDDOb~vdS1b8RYsoSM0n5npugcN8JJi8bVNy5GrcEuIM4qI7LMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on a voice vote designated February 2025 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and approved a one-year, $150,000 contract with Emergency Support Shelter to support shelter operations for people fleeing domestic violence.

The proclamation, read at the start of the meeting, recognizes the prevalence of dating violence among adolescents and “encourages all schools and community organizations” to participate in awareness activities. An advocate from Emergency Support Shelter told commissioners the agency was established in 1978 and now offers “emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children, free and confidential, domestic violence advocacy, legal advocacy, and support for victims of crime.” She added, “Teen dating violence awareness month aims to educate young people on the prevalence of dating violence and how they can prevent it.”

The board moved later in the meeting to approve a one-year contract for shelter operations with Emergency Support Shelter totaling $150,000. Gina James, director of Health and Human Services, said the contract provides $100,000 for basic shelter operations and includes a $50,000 county match that is payable when the shelter receives private donations. James said the funds for the contract come from a portion of the county’s document-recording fees that state law designates for housing and homeless services; she said the percentage is set in statute but did not quote the code and that she would check the exact percentage.

James described the shelter’s capacity and recent usage: the shelter can house up to eight families at a time; in 2024 the shelter served “over a hundred individuals” comprising about 61 households. She said typical short-term stays are up to 90 days and estimated a rough per-family, 90-day cost of about $1,500, noting families’ needs vary. For this contract the county allows up to 10% for administrative costs.

Commissioners asked how the proclamation and contract affect daily services. The shelter advocate said the agency does year-round prevention and education work but that the proclamation brings broader visibility and helps them reach more people. The advocate described recent activities tied to the awareness month, saying staff visited several middle and high schools to run interactive tabling events, pledges, and peer-led programs teaching “what healthy relationships look like.”

Board members asked about program metrics and oversight. James said the shelter submits quarterly reports to the county and that the Phoenix House and similar programs use “self-sufficiency plans” to track progress for residents; she said the state monitors some housing projects more closely when the state funds housing units directly but that the Phoenix House contract is a “services-only” project, which receives less direct state oversight.

The motion to approve the shelter contract passed on a voice vote. Commissioners also approved the proclamation by voice vote earlier in the meeting.

The board and staff said they will provide additional details and data—such as the exact statute percentage for document-recording fees and administrative-cost figures—if commissioners request them at future briefings or work sessions.","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners declared February 2025 Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and approved a one-year, $150,000 contract with Emergency Support Shelter for shelter operations, including a $50,000 match tied to private donations; funding comes from document-recording fees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges investigation into truck speeds, threats and easement disputes near Mount St. Helens retreat

County awards Tudo wastewater improvement bid and expands construction inspection services

County approves coordinated-entry contracts, commissioners debate centralized intake and outreach

Cowlitz County proclaims February teen dating violence awareness month and approves $150,000 shelter contract