[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6267169,"mediaKeyId","3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24","parentId",3077221,"title","Commissioners appoint two trustees to newly formed Yale Valley Library District board","audioSeconds",529,"startMs",5447000,"endMs",5976000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24&start=5447&end=5976","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24/thumbnail_5447000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267169/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Commissioners-appoint-two-trustees-to-newly-formed-Yale-Valley-Library-District-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267169-bc0b630420fad1a589247b7ad791144c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225634&Signature=mm9z37fWZ28LLwjdFwdo1xb2P3P~W9LjdP6dVeSfZueUiqBFDzm2TV2ieLSxD1nROkmjkUPmXCP1UQ3fLad4v9N8ugrjPDE-vULC0sTtaP8XhpabihFRS1Y9J1tWO2Een74OV0EidOmRYKaP1n-PvtprhgGQWxBYbKXRgDDb479VWfS90XUPhZQTgO1VesHBDRgzyeIRuKOt~N6B1FnjPw7GSEQUzJHWfyvppSW83Q9q9QRGapIo3U~e-0B5acI7s1NhmkL1PXu5f2RQ0mulfsSIpqr2qZJhVK~mzgXdF5VGG4iYLdAzKbUNe0MI-LijaDOF7viDyXiaf3KWPuFpgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-04-22T08:37:36.577Z","article","Jennifer Giltrap of Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries and Kathy Wheeler, a Yale Valley Library volunteer and trustee, briefed the commissioners on the newly formed Yale Valley Library District and recommended trustee appointments.

The district is a rural partial county library district established to serve the Yale precinct. It contracts services with Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries, which provides staff, materials and fiscal management. The district’s levy rate for 2025 is 29.2975 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and is projected to generate about $175,000 in revenue for the year.

The library district board recommended two nominees. Commissioners appointed Alyssa (listed in discussion as Alisa/Alyssa) D'Amecchio to fill the current vacancy and agreed to appoint Imelda Ochau to the seat that will open when trustee Kathy Wheeler’s term expires in July. The board discussed staggering the appointments so the immediate vacancy is filled now and the second appointment takes effect at the later term expiration date.

Kathy Wheeler provided a short history of the project, describing community fundraising, a reserve capital approach that helped pay for construction of the present library (opened July 2021) and ongoing community use; staff described roughly 1,000 monthly patrons and active programming and volunteer support.

Ending: The county clerk and staff will complete the formal appointment paperwork and notify the Yale Valley Library District board of the newly appointed trustees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","The board appointed two local residents to the Yale Valley Library District trustees: Alyssa (Alisa) D'Amecchio to the current vacancy and Imelda Ochau to fill a seat beginning in July.","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},6267174,"Public Works seeks increased funding for landfill design, issues bids for guardrail and striping; surplus-vehicle hearing set",148,5343000,5491000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24&start=5343&end=5491","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24/thumbnail_5343000.jpg","/articles/6267174/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Public-Works-seeks-increased-funding-for-landfill-design-issues-bids-for-guardrail-and-striping-surplus-vehicle-hearing-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267174-d57d142bfeb3df91eeb11addb2a673ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225634&Signature=DxjldQqUDey7i9R5fUNyHmLVZ3RRT4vA5oTiXp9lTyjG2IkY7BbkLA-B92Vq6IoQ6kZnw6dsL-bhD8XnmzZzvs~88hDnmUxnPI~k4T4Ou~Iv~6EG661lA4kW8jkYfE9qgnIfQr0KtgdQ7BBAHCi3kAJJ33PCn1VhWpZ2S2daqJ~W4dfPFAUWNB-EHS-JnQK43CpYAdsXKbnWSH51Kk6PsYvNBwLsjZyiXAEhQf-9e4HuA5dlZDUrCm8HPFaleWQr9ctKDCeoqgm0P0eWpMLjYWCHalLm6c~CZXdOyM23NU58ZWn~w-3mLahG0KZf8N6a6hwZ4DpKKyllIVVZiIHftA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works and county staff presented several operational and capital items to the commissioners Tuesday morning.

Solid waste: Public Works requested board authorization to amend its professional-services agreement with BHC Consultants by $400,000, increasing the contract cap to $1.0 million. The additional funds will pay for detailed design work related to Cell 10 (geotechnical, liner, leachate, gas and stormwater systems) and related technical tasks; the project currently sits at roughly 30% design and the amendment would fund work toward a higher percent design in advance of anticipated construction planning in 2026.

Bid announcements: The county posted a call for bids for a countywide guardrail installation project (est. $508,000), funded with federal safety dollars, with work concentrated on Little Klamath River Road and Shirley Gordon Road and other steep‑shoulder locations. A second bid package for annual striping (estimate $647,000) will stripe collectors, arterials and roads scheduled for chip seal; that solicitation is general road-fund work and is slated to open May 19, with the guardrail bid opening May 20.

Surplus property and equipment: The county set a call for hearing on proposed surplus vehicles and equipment for May 13. The list includes passenger vehicles and heavy equipment from several departments (landfill, sheriff, ER&R and motor pool); staff said heavy equipment typically goes to an auction house (for example, Ritchie Brothers) and passenger vehicles are commonly sold through an online vendor.

Human resources: The board approved a request from Public Works to fill an open ASE-certified (or non‑ASE) mechanic position that has been vacant about a year. The department said certification affects pay and that the position may be filled as certified or non‑certified depending on candidate qualifications.

Ending: The board indicated support for moving the contract amendment and bid packages forward; final contract action on the BHC amendment will come to the board for formal approval as required.","Public Works requested a $400,000 amendment to its solid-waste engineering contract for Cell 10 design work, announced bid openings for a federally funded guardrail project and the annual striping contract, and scheduled a surplus-vehicle hearing for May 13.",{"_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},6267177,"Sheriff’s office reports steady staffing, one vacancy and several program funds; court-security contract, retiree-benefits fund noted",758,3634000,4392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24&start=3634&end=4392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24/thumbnail_3634000.jpg","/articles/6267177/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Sheriffs-office-reports-steady-staffing-one-vacancy-and-several-program-funds-court-security-contract-retiree-benefits-fund-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267177-eb13290dcfd922a3993df456ee56de63/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225634&Signature=XzvvjFRHtkxtTEajc~YAlJFDeg8G6v2vuluO0brXhD75~YIVwkUSskcKYYxcT69LFjnDkpIJwnhlbllypXV1G88Lb5SfM4VwWIu5WCl6~0SNbPHxsF6dyKi7d7sqmv3YGiQS6LGUX0rglHz6UtzWqvU0A-O7FbsFJfL~e29ehNdLcJTMVQcucxjGJDiP4XmqjuZCu5Pnb-9kUuN1StxqhF0GD0NiBzMifZ4miUvITLU01oE7eQEoOK5hthfqmnyxhjizWJEeEMmz6vBJ3B94EOljyZm538T1OeEMz7gxXpPRKKemf4SwTLX9xUpdRAxLyrSI2MepqXdx2QRbNGRmvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Brad and county finance staff briefed the board on the sheriff’s office funds, staffing and program accounts on Tuesday.

Staff reported the sheriff’s general fund is budgeted to receive about $2.176 million in revenues (intergovernmental payments and other sources) and that timing of quarterly intergovernmental receipts can make early‑year balances look low through March. The department’s largest expenditure category is personnel (budgeted roughly $8.9 million); year‑to‑date personnel spending through March was approximately $1.9 million, slightly below a straight‑line target for three months.

The sheriff’s office reported 56 filled positions and one vacancy; two retirements are scheduled in July and the department said it is actively recruiting. Staff also noted the county’s court-security contract with Northwest Security represents a major professional-services expense (reported as a contract exceeding approximately $400,000).

Staff reviewed a number of special sheriff funds: the Crime Reduction Team (CRT, formerly a joint narcotics task force) fund has modest revenues and budgeted supplies and services; the county-maintained “drug fund” described earlier in the meeting contains limited and declining receipts; the county also maintains a “LEAF” retiree benefits fund with a fund balance above $1 million that covers lifetime supplemental medical and, in one case, full-time long-term care for a former employee. County staff said that fund receives an annual transfer of $300,000 from the general fund and is budgeted for about $645,000 in retiree-benefit expenses this year (year-to-date actuals were about $60,600).

Other sheriff programs discussed included the canine program (two dogs: one patrol dog and one tracking dog), the Bearcat armored vehicle (funded by an interlocal bond where cities share payments; county payments occur June 1 and Dec. 1), and the sheriff range (an interlocal training/range fund with multiple agency participants).

The sheriff and staff said they do not anticipate a revenue shortfall for the sheriff’s fund this year; some intra‑year timing and billing effects explain the March snapshots.

Ending: The sheriff’s office will continue recruiting to fill vacancies and the county will monitor the retiree-benefits fund and long-term obligations as part of broader budget reviews.","Sheriff and finance staff gave a multi-fund update: the sheriff’s general fund shows revenue timing effects but no immediate shortfall, the department reported 56 filled positions and one vacancy, and the county maintains a retiree benefits fund that carries long-term obligations.",{"_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},6267183,"Prosecuting attorney’s office reports stable operations but flags victim-services funding uncertainty",1332,2066000,3398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24&start=2066&end=3398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24/thumbnail_2066000.jpg","/articles/6267183/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Prosecuting-attorneys-office-reports-stable-operations-but-flags-victim-services-funding-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267183-ae6d1a81ea4208da36178e3aeaafc1c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225634&Signature=cx1Iz2kfiopOI52ihmA0HaT1ijCgArVTqeE-TdBtzo3EeZVWO6Yzyb-iCEj-nm1nX0P70ycqBY7cMIYIqlGYTE0iPpJh-JToth12YEYepWHVcQ-PoCaBZnatMC91nsGSxwdNDGNlEoFhrSn4y1WQ-jC61VCzd4NcSxt65G28noTSqhELeObGBbIaf6ciR0HKJODREap0RM-iCcBwFTPJ~~37EoWeHwb6pxwOqqHQ9NtbOXfdZE9L9R-Ak8keVt5CBXBz15te4x9ipKeR0gdLnf3FtJOvkjRtx9cvNjuw~0A3DUa6FFyONRwipzpv6xM86ftmj~YgCBY9d0Hnwq5nqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff reviewed the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office general fund and several special funds at Tuesday’s meeting. The presentation showed the office’s general fund is supported largely by county general revenues (property tax and sales tax) and that current revenue and expenditure trends are generally in line with targets through mid-April.

Staff reported the office’s personnel budget accounts for the largest share of expenditures — more than $3 million — with roughly 26 budgeted positions and about three current vacancies. Prosecuting Attorney staff member Ryan reported two new attorneys have started in the past month and one longtime part-time position remains unfilled; the office is using a mix of part-time and contract help to cover work while the leadership evaluates whether to fill the final full-time vacancy.

On caseloads, Ryan said felony caseloads in superior court have declined compared with earlier years while some misdemeanor-level filings have increased; juvenile filings remain below pre‑COVID levels but rose last year compared with the prior year.

The meeting also covered the victim-witness/crime-victim services fund, which is a special-purpose revenue fund separate from the general fund. Staff said that over the past several years the state and legislature phased out many legal financial obligations (LFOs) that defendants paid directly to support victim services. The legislature pledged replacement state funding for victim programs, but county staff said they are watching whether those appropriations are sufficient and timely. The county’s victim-services account has budgeted revenues and a personnel allocation; staff said they may consider a revenue budget amendment later in the year after third-quarter receipts.

Separately the county maintains a dedicated “drug fund” that historically collected legal financial obligations imposed on defendants in drug cases. Prosecuting Attorney staff reported that fund’s balance was approximately $240,000 in one reference and later shown on county reports as approximately $256,000; staff said revenues into that fund have declined in recent years because of court vacatur and changes to criminal sentencing and that the fund has been used infrequently in the past decade.

Staff also noted the county’s victim-services personnel are listed in the general personnel rolls using allocation codes and that much of the victim-services program’s non‑personnel costs are internal service billings.

Ending: County staff said they will monitor state-level funding for victim services and will propose budget adjustments later in the year if state dollars do not materialize as anticipated.","Prosecuting attorney staff presented financials showing overall revenues supporting operations, stable staffing trends, and a separate victim-witness fund whose state replacement funding remains uncertain after elimination of certain defendant fees.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267188,"Cowlitz County finance director warns fund balance may shrink; asks departments to identify cuts ahead of 2026 budget",3094,5168000,8262000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24&start=5168&end=8262","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077221-3ad6dee990f813ff46fed61dc1c96a24/thumbnail_5168000.jpg","/articles/6267188/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-finance-director-warns-fund-balance-may-shrink-asks-departments-to-identify-cuts-ahead-of-2026-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267188-d65bf4f586d0d20542c51bf2927b5937/orig.mp4?Expires=1771225634&Signature=FID-Z6hzAgc~VW0uJMa0BnCzK9wTocV3LLFsojEqyx0kwEDclRkLtpb4k3FT4ZVF24p7dCYxBm7tQuvAQ4bsroWfMVmLzMhukpUrOILMN7loxWkNL~xM9RDdAbXOl6pBjhlj-GVjzr5D8bJkIteb3Srqvn2sONEX5aGpQHX6SyAqOQVfhM6jS14mGYPHGPrgX6QRR~84wsUGtGyo3eBqR-ujOwzjuNdubXIWyBAZu4sDmmrCCtU2vNPBErhXvzJTL7VT0z2HwWTgUBmKobWljyPHKKmuegTJvQxmwm44D5GcPqT2Ru6U3lRugMs9lwKPhN8ScSgvfkf-gCfUg-IRew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kathy, the county finance director, told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that preliminary year-end figures show the county will end 2024 with an estimated general fund balance of about $19.1 million and that current forecasts point to a year-end 2025 balance near $13.9 million.

Kathy said the preliminary accounting indicates 2024 revenues of roughly $60 million and expenditures of about $63.8 million, producing an estimated draw on reserves of approximately $3.5 million. For 2025 she said she is projecting a smaller draw than is currently budgeted — about $5.0 million instead of the $15.7 million shown in the revised 2025 budget — primarily because departments historically underspend payroll and other lines.

The finance director framed the decline as largely structural: constrained property tax growth under state limits, slower state revenue collections, inflation-driven cost increases and recent salary and benefits increases for employees. She noted the state auditor’s office and best-practice guidance prefer reserve levels equal to about 60 days of operating expenditures; the county’s board policy currently targets one month. Kathy said the county remains above both benchmarks today but the trend is downward and should be monitored.

Kathy told commissioners she would ask general-fund departments in May to prepare “what-if” worksheets showing the programmatic impact of hypothetical reductions (for example, 5% and 10% cuts) so administrators and elected leaders can evaluate options ahead of formal budget submissions in July and public hearings starting in September.

On revenues, Kathy reported mixed signals: statewide collections were running below forecast in recent state reporting, but local sales-tax receipts for January (received in March) were 6% higher than the prior year. She emphasized timing effects: through March the general fund appeared slightly in deficit because property tax revenues post in April; she expects the budget picture to improve once those taxes arrive.

Kathy also reviewed other large funds briefly, noting the solid-waste enterprise posts large early-year transfers to closure and post-closure reserves that create a timing deficit through March but are expected to normalize.

The board agreed there would be a departmental review process ahead of formal budget entry. The county scheduled a public hearing for a second-quarter budget amendment for May 27 and will post required notices before that hearing.

Looking ahead, Kathy recommended keeping a conservative approach to revenue assumptions and reminded the board that a prolonged decline in reserves could affect bond ratings and other fiscal metrics if not addressed.

Ending: The finance director said she will circulate budget worksheets to departments in May and return with updated projections after the April property tax receipts are posted.","County Finance Director presented preliminary 2024 results and a forecast for 2025 that show a declining general fund balance and urged departments to prepare budget reduction scenarios ahead of the 2026 cycle.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners appoint two trustees to newly formed Yale Valley Library District board

Public Works seeks increased funding for landfill design, issues bids for guardrail and striping; surplus-vehicle hearing set

Sheriff’s office reports steady staffing, one vacancy and several program funds; court-security contract, retiree-benefits fund noted

Prosecuting attorney’s office reports stable operations but flags victim-services funding uncertainty

Cowlitz County finance director warns fund balance may shrink; asks departments to identify cuts ahead of 2026 budget