[{"_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",6099781,"mediaKeyId","2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6","parentId",2816029,"title","La Center police warn residents after $500,000 gold-coin and other frauds; urge verification before paying","audioSeconds",595,"startMs",3183000,"endMs",3778000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6&start=3183&end=3778","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6/thumbnail_3183000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6099781/La-Center/Clark-County/Washington/La-Center-police-warn-residents-after-500000-gold-coin-and-other-frauds-urge-verification-before-paying","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099781-0c89382f0e47b84341dc747ac9ca642a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774963572&Signature=Es7eVsuNtGdTDpkE8nAsSZWdYuJOr-qPFuS8zs65wudf9KC8Wvg5VvNKLLWuK7ir17XlqWaEIY7tFLq5gUfwGtHsnDqzds9KA1h61Pw-GNaPkWqETEEx4L4XG89LLrlYRXdeTSBL4YAcEhYFRHlf-Iu-gxosMtBHbwCwoiDmbhTbhZpL5j~tyyw-89u7aENhp50ElQqZVV~VhPPBKL5URvwrZJ3Y3BtebQyaG6pYwBnAJ-c6kdGemmll27whZhORCapqzLk~9W7PCoBwACD-sfwzBYEMRuxPYCHQahS5Zh4L8gZnAdYQ-78u55oRqd3NySL8AlS5UTOMKHaLcuS~BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","La Center, WA","date","2025-03-29T10:00:56.907Z","article","La Center’s police commander told the city council on March 26 that detectives are investigating a sophisticated fraud in which a Clark County resident, in her 70s, lost more than $500,000 in a gold-coin scheme, and described other recent scams that used threats and cryptocurrency to extract money.

Commander Sample said the gold-coin case involved a caller claiming to be a federal agent who said the victim’s Social Security number was linked to fraud. The caller persuaded the victim to withdraw assets, buy gold coins and hand them to an individual who represented himself to be an undercover federal agent. “The scammer ultimately conned the victim into withdrawing most of her liquid assets, purchasing gold coins, and provided the coins to an undercover federal agent,” Sample said. Detectives are investigating.

Why it matters: Police said the scams are sophisticated and often target older adults. Sample stressed that government agents will not demand payment in gold, gift cards or cryptocurrency and urged people to independently verify any unexpected call. He offered practical steps: hang up, look up the agency’s main number independently, and contact local police if unsure. He described a separate case in which a resident lost about $15,000 after being instructed to use Bitcoin machines.

Sample also reviewed calls-for-service and traffic-enforcement activity for February, noting increases in deputy-initiated activity and a rise in traffic infractions such as driving while suspended, speeding and expired registration. “We are way up from a year ago,” Sample said of deputy-initiated activity, adding that the department will shift enforcement emphasis from school zones to other areas as needed.

The commander encouraged banks and other institutions to help spot suspicious large cash or cryptocurrency withdrawals used in scams and asked residents to be suspicious of unsolicited texts or calls that demand immediate payment.

Ending: Police reiterated that anyone who receives an unsolicited demand for payment should pause, verify the caller independently using public contact information, and call the police if they suspect fraud.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 03 26 2025","oneSentenceSummary","La Center’s police commander told the city council on March 26 that detectives are investigating a sophisticated fraud in which a Clark County resident, in her 70s, lost more than $500,000 in a gold-coin scheme, and described other recent scams that used threats and cryptocurrency to extract money.","taxTitle","La Center, Clark County, Washington","taxId",73809,"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},6099785,"La Center finance director reports $720,000 general-fund surplus, explains city fund structure",1468,2685000,4153000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6&start=2685&end=4153","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6/thumbnail_2685000.jpg","/articles/6099785/La-Center/Clark-County/Washington/La-Center-finance-director-reports-720000-general-fund-surplus-explains-city-fund-structure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099785-5270848715d9870f7ab05ca6892e86a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1774963572&Signature=JgFTEUlULZ66yUmQnN-9UOtXjtJrAVLXxk4BU14uj9i741O-aT4Ba9uYKmxY3Bx9NGhEmgR0I1uD5Sp7B5Sh809ncB3afMwjPqbWwbbv6YTjbhKgvqhCEOyXbTr5dF8F~wPilvh-DCpcF3Q~~CokBsBhRAaz~ggl8EKpJMx22em8r~~pwvDHEKzNSSE3Z1zeBR9gdfZyuvxVe9d5BaLZSeFX2TRRwAA3bz9LSfynKVdJ8JEIfZH6KEQuGG0ifTB7jObxWvvB0-sXEMdn4oDYIJKF0FcyBOU3N1AgBx0q~vqs5Q9t53w0ZvFniMY8U0yjZK-AFtTnxAZti8RyiWoh0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City accountant Riley Barbera told the La Center City Council on March 26 that the city concluded 2024 with an unexpectedly large general-fund surplus and reviewed the structure and restrictions of the city’s main funds.

Barbera said the city had budgeted a $55,000 general-fund deficit for 2024 but ended the year with a roughly $720,000 surplus, leaving an ending general-fund balance around $4.3 million. “So all in all, we had budgeted for a $55,000 deficit, and we actually had a $720,000 surplus,” Barbera said.

Why it matters: The presentation explained where city revenue comes from and the legal or policy limits on how particular funds can be used. Barbera said taxes are the largest revenue source for the general fund, and gambling taxes and retail sales figure prominently. The city’s reserve fund began the year with about $4.4 million and is intended for emergencies; impact fees started the year near $6.4 million (about $675,000 in park impact fees and $5.8 million in traffic impact fees). Barbera also described REET (real-estate excise tax) balances — roughly $2.8 million combined — and noted those proceeds carry project-specific restrictions.

Barbera explained the purpose and constraints of several funds: impact fees must be reasonably related to new development and generally used for new construction (park and traffic projects); REET money must appear in the capital improvements plan to be eligible; the newly created roads-and-streets fund (established in 2023) covers road operations and capital projects but currently receives transfers from the general fund because state shared revenues and fuel taxes generate limited income. Enterprise utilities, such as sewer and stormwater, operate from their own revenue streams; Barbera said the sewer operation fund began the year with just under $1 million and that the city is planning a sewer-rate study.

The presentation listed department-level variances and noted public-works salaries and roads-and-streets allocations required midyear adjustments. Barbera said interest income and planning services fees were stronger than expected and building permit revenue lagged 2024 but may appear in the near-term permit pipeline. He closed by noting capital projects and impact-fee balances that staff expect to address in the 2025 budget process.

Ending: Council members praised the clarity of the report and thanked Barbera for the overview; staff said the 2025 budget process and scheduled rate studies (sewer/stormwater) will address some identified pressures.","City accountant Riley Barbera presented the 2024 financial report on March 26, reporting an approximately $720,000 surplus versus a projected $55,000 deficit and outlining the city’s major funds, reserves and constraints on impact and REET funds.",{"_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},6099790,"Clark County outlines HUD consolidated-plan process, seeks public input through May 10",1458,1003000,2461000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6&start=1003&end=2461","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6/thumbnail_1003000.jpg","/articles/6099790/La-Center/Clark-County/Washington/Clark-County-outlines-HUD-consolidated-plan-process-seeks-public-input-through-May-10","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099790-b617fc38d2e8c94e18e8c8e103367c8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1774963572&Signature=PrHzqid~hfdph6kY3XikiLbbJV1LV6j0wMaaP5vKlZSit8zQDMNeWgJvoxn1btOqAqR4ttNwszMKlEAWkxbJc2uLPXVgKX5ljAvYi7yKtiYNdXSLmQvbIpQ3anTLNT5hEPeCMGkWLrge~c~KTg4EEGaAxooUIwngOadgtu5zbS13~z5nh6JUGHM4sT-L8soqnNR6pYXR9qOY1kNl9Tg9Vso25OEsR8azhXW6yPIB~QCL3L-fe8oXkE~cYJ~iIZVJ7wT0bUiqchsU6GLDxYGvf3SOvLL2AKHkpatqYdL5W7CX9W2jAqfUDblYrRDZA6BrCOQR~3~mYC5tzyCL2Aj0Lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Clark County Community Services staff told the La Center City Council on March 26 that the county is preparing its five-year HUD consolidated plan and is seeking public input through May 10 before the plan goes to the Clark County Council for adoption.

The presentation explained that the county’s entitlement funding comes from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships programs and described who and what those funds can serve. “Community development is really about housing,” said Michael Torres, a program manager with Clark County Community Services. Torres and consultants said the county’s CDBG award for program year 2024 was about $1.5 million and the HOME award was just over $500,000, and both change year to year based on HUD’s formulas.

Why it matters: CDBG and HOME are the county’s primary federal tools for affordable housing, public services and small capital projects outside Vancouver (which is an entitlement city and receives its own allocation). The county’s plan will set strategic priorities for those limited funds for five years and include a detailed annual action plan for the first year.

County staff and consultants walked through HUD rules that constrain how the funds may be used: CDBG activities must meet one of three national objectives (benefit low-/moderate-income persons, prevent slum/blight under narrow conditions, or address urgent need if HUD approves), and CDBG public-service spending is capped at 15% of the entitlement. “If you’re developing rental housing, the HOME program generally targets those at 60% or below of area median income,” said Elizabeth McNaney, one of the consultants. The presenters illustrated income thresholds used for eligibility (for a household of four, the CDBG threshold cited was $94,400 and the HOME threshold $70,800) and noted the planning-and-administration caps (20% for CDBG; 10% for HOME).

Consultants described eligible activities the county typically funds: single-family housing rehabilitation, small-business microenterprise assistance, tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) under HOME, public facility or infrastructure improvements that serve areas where at least 51% of residents are low/moderate income, and community public services (subject to the 15% cap). They also noted ineligible uses, such as paying routine government operations or most government building purchases except limited ADA upgrades.

Public engagement and timeline: surveys and stakeholder interviews are underway; consultants asked residents and nonprofits to complete the survey and participate in targeted meetings. The consultants said the consolidated plan will be presented to the Clark County Council in May; final budget numbers won’t be fixed until HUD issues actual allocations (typically about 60 days after the county knows the federal HUD budget). “We’re accepting information through May 10,” McNaney said, and added that public comment will be solicited when the draft is posted.

County officials said survey feedback so far emphasizes housing affordability and shelter, behavioral and health services, and child care. Consultants noted that Clark County has one domestic-violence shelter and stakeholders repeatedly raised gaps in services that help people transition from homelessness through supportive and permanent housing.

The consultants said nonprofits and clinics would be typical subrecipients for any public-service awards and that the urban-county policy board — comprised of participating cities and the county — scores and recommends project funding in the annual solicitation. The presenters also said communities commonly use CDBG and HOME in combination with partner funding because the federal awards alone do not meet all local needs.

Staff asked for questions from the council and public and offered contact information for follow-up. The county’s public-survey links and supporting materials will be shared by email and on the county website, the presenters said.

Ending: County staff advised residents and nonprofit partners to watch the county website for the draft action plan and use the May 10 deadline to submit feedback that will inform the first-year annual action plan and the broader five-year priorities.","Clark County Community Services staff and consultants presented the federally required five-year HUD consolidated plan to La Center council on March 26, explaining how Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds can be used and asking residents to complete surveys and participate in outreach through May 10.",{"_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},6099776,"La Center council approves consent agenda; council welcomes new director of administrative services",3507,829000,4336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6&start=829&end=4336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2816029-8573a716af357cb40284c6b7f987f3c6/thumbnail_829000.jpg","/articles/6099776/La-Center/Clark-County/Washington/La-Center-council-approves-consent-agenda-council-welcomes-new-director-of-administrative-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6099776-af9a18384ae572b9249854e046d18cfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1774963572&Signature=CI0rczUAzf~zfg7JhYdRIDeRzuD5zKZbKHJ8Xe28CTObcMd3viHf7Cn6aRrRfv13uMC4CdoAK9VmmbZE6MYT67tCs4LOTlb9TpGqpR8kbpTxFktiWiBXPT9fBsRarattqSq0j5QWUuRyzZpWrph8nR0~8uY-1mmsluNHeUJRLwIxgQLDrQxEdpBw5kAqulUYTypG21p0HZNkon8WytZUPDwf-K7Embd8gZl33m77ULHfES9HkrV1nhcWVsbCGdAIZkTgKzt3cK0036v880cB1Rk5vKH9MnYhr5mdQcQR7t4gPpWEnbCq3ss97p-FLyYxrD-XxvooBDoqk1BSzhbLJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The La Center City Council approved the consent agenda on March 26 after a motion and second. The council’s remote member, Sean Boyle, registered his vote as “yes” in the meeting chat before the mayor confirmed the consent agenda’s approval.

Why it matters: Consent-agenda approvals finalize routine administrative items and allow the council to proceed to presentations and reports. The transcript does not list specific items removed from or included in that consent agenda.

The meeting also included an administrative announcement: Mayor Pro Tem Tim Casperg introduced Peter Boyce as La Center’s new director of administrative services, citing 25 years of local-government experience in multiple states and a background that includes budget management, collective-bargaining negotiation and capital planning. “Pete is eager to collaborate and learn from our talented team and looks forward to contributing to our projects and getting to know all of you,” the mayor pro tem said.

Action: The consent agenda was moved and seconded and approved; the transcript does not record named movers or a roll-call tally beyond the mayor’s confirmation and Boyle’s chat response.

Ending: The council proceeded to presentations after approving the consent agenda and then heard the two presentations and reports scheduled for the evening.","The La Center City Council moved and seconded approval of the consent agenda during the March 26 meeting; the council also heard an introduction of Peter Boyce, the city’s new director of administrative services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

La Center police warn residents after $500,000 gold-coin and other frauds; urge verification before paying

La Center finance director reports $720,000 general-fund surplus, explains city fund structure

Clark County outlines HUD consolidated-plan process, seeks public input through May 10

La Center council approves consent agenda; council welcomes new director of administrative services