[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6085387,"mediaKeyId","2903716-3adca2e4bf591e126eda1e2069ab22ce","parentId",2903716,"title","Votes at a glance: Cowlitz County commissioners approve consent agenda, rescind emergency order for International Way sewer repair","audioSeconds",531,"startMs",3194000,"endMs",3725000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2903716-3adca2e4bf591e126eda1e2069ab22ce&start=3194&end=3725","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2903716-3adca2e4bf591e126eda1e2069ab22ce/thumbnail_3194000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6085387/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-Cowlitz-County-commissioners-approve-consent-agenda-rescind-emergency-order-for-International-Way-sewer-repair","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085387-e3417e1576a2dead6d30fec113e6f063/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079103&Signature=dr5UowF0-qrrYqklJ8mOiLpxOQ8R6GO70cm0kq~Vo~N~mDrpToiOLdf2FdCe6RrMWQtJiuqvWMhN7ItjXqc~H4POREy5ZDHep5WffFJRsbcFibQMCpvdaupCCnD7rMpCnqI40voAbbYqcB0EzH~JiK58p85xCwNMHz7ur950nsTvC70gl4vavd02plIabOrKq0PwFv7XFrWPBPOb2s8Pgsas5XcZsJjMk5ungpJCL3rUeJvz02bz0eFwB5SjJ3isYVaPKiF-vobDxuNusBARr~pySAG9olqMOY-qwrlPjGWF7bf0tad138Sx691Qoq~mi1AFa506JaIFuNGRPxJ7HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-04-09T02:18:42.79Z","article","COWLITZ COUNTY — The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously during its Tuesday meeting to approve minutes, accept the consent agenda and rescind an earlier emergency order covering repairs to a sewer line on International Way.

The board approved minutes for March 31 and April 2 after a motion and an oral vote. The consent agenda passed on a subsequent motion; the consent items included a call for bids for road-surfacing materials for the contract period May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, and a call for bids for South Cloverdale Road improvements. County staff estimated the South Cloverdale project at about $9,900,000, with roughly $3.6 million identified as out-of-county funds.

On a separate motion, the board rescinded emergency resolution number 25-004, which had authorized emergency repairs to a gravity sewer line on International Way. County Engineer Susan Eugenis said the emergency repair work was completed by Advanced Excavating Specialist and the final cost came in at $52,600.68 — well below earlier estimates. Rescinding the emergency declaration allows staff to finish closeout steps for the contract.

Other consent items mentioned in the meeting record included board correspondence appointing and reappointing citizens to advisory bodies (Silver Lake Watershed Advisory Council and the Homeless Housing Task Force) and a letter supporting federal building repairs for the Mount St. Helens Institute. The board reported vouchers totaling $349,613.41 for the period covered in that consent packet.

Votes at a glance:
- Approval of minutes (March 31 and April 2): motion made; outcome: approved (voice vote: \"Aye\").
- Consent agenda (including bids, contracts, correspondence, vouchers): motion made; outcome: approved (voice vote: \"Aye\").
- Resolution rescinding emergency order for International Way sewer repair (Resolution 25-004): motion made; outcome: approved (voice vote: \"Aye\").

None of the recorded votes listed named roll-call tallies; outcomes were recorded by voice as \"Aye.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Commissioners approved routine minutes and the consent agenda, including calls for bids and correspondence; the board also rescinded an emergency declaration tied to the International Way sewer repair after the contractor completed work for $52,600.68.","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},6085392,"Cowlitz County commissioners, sheriff debate state change allowing some noncitizens to serve in law enforcement",2202,3779000,5981000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2903716-3adca2e4bf591e126eda1e2069ab22ce&start=3779&end=5981","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2903716-3adca2e4bf591e126eda1e2069ab22ce/thumbnail_3779000.jpg","/articles/6085392/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-commissioners-sheriff-debate-state-change-allowing-some-noncitizens-to-serve-in-law-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6085392-9c0affcda9ce3367548b4f4eb4865440/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079103&Signature=Ujx14HStbRApAm3JHnYUA8X96O1CVl1hM3hAMCEmJ2Qt~Gtum~mEJyeLZl6XLWjGVmG46LLA4oUjgHJ~uP~2768-UX4yJ3kHb8N0FsBH2P6W2BVxr2TUAJY2nFrc-gtXU4x-MikivS9~Z~Py~zvXno7Nf7CiH1Ao0YFpBNzDAJ17Yn8~voH5Jb0fbA2wRDu5Zg3y7Adl5XTpfh-UQPcBRh6XiCwROjCUcecZRi51f~4r0KGVRZJXbrTAJYGhAyDyBJOcdqrqzipr5if~GPRCvdO2~kTaT2NT-PS9HwZ04hioYDkKkZqRuvrc9ypBOA-zeWD72J6IL~k1JkE7Isb3XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COWLITZ COUNTY — Commissioners and the county sheriff spent a large portion of a Tuesday meeting debating a state law that allows some noncitizens to be employed as law enforcement, with officials raising concerns about vetting, firearms access and whether the county can bar the practice locally.

The discussion began when a commissioner raised recent legislative activity and constituent questions about a bill that would clarify which noncitizen classifications can be hired by law-enforcement agencies. Sheriff Brett Thurman told the board the underlying authority allowing certain noncitizens to be employed by law enforcement first went into effect in 2018 and has been amended in subsequent sessions.

“We have the civil service commission for the Sheriff's office,” Thurman said, summarizing how hiring standards work locally. He added that the 2018 law applied to permanent residents (green-card holders) and that last year’s changes referenced DACA (deferred action for childhood arrivals); this session’s language, he said, is largely a clarification or expansion of classifications already recognized in federal law.

The commissioners and several public commenters questioned whether local agencies could or should hire noncitizens. One commissioner said, “I will stand adamantly opposed to seeing that type of thing happening here at any level of policing. There should be no noncitizens wearing a badge.” Another expressed concern about whether noncitizens could lawfully possess firearms, and how background checks for people who immigrated from other countries would be verified.

Thurman told the board that permanent-resident green-card holders can obtain a concealed-pistol license under Washington law and that local agencies are not required to hire noncitizens if finances or background-check costs are a concern. He also noted that local civil-service procedures (the “rule of 5”) give departments discretion over eligible hires.

Several commissioners urged addressing underlying recruitment and retention issues for deputies rather than changing the pool of eligible hires. “We need to address the issue,” one commissioner said, adding that officers face increased personal liability and that the county should focus on restoring support for existing staff.

Members of the public used the discussion to raise related concerns about judicial sentencing and accountability, tax increment financing and other county policy questions; commissioners directed some questions to staff for follow-up. No ordinance, code change or binding local policy was adopted during the meeting on this topic.

Why it matters: The county’s hiring policies affect public-safety staffing and local control over who enforces laws. Commissioners discussed possible nonbinding options — a resolution or exploring code changes — but did not adopt any formal restriction at the meeting.

What’s next: Commissioners asked staff to research whether a local resolution or code change is feasible and noted the civil-service commission governs hiring standards for the sheriff’s office. The board did not schedule a vote on the subject at the meeting.","County leaders and the sheriff debated a state law that allows certain noncitizens to be employed as law enforcement, raising questions about vetting, firearms access and local authority; no formal county action was taken.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Cowlitz County commissioners approve consent agenda, rescind emergency order for International Way sewer repair

Cowlitz County commissioners, sheriff debate state change allowing some noncitizens to serve in law enforcement