[{"_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",6266297,"mediaKeyId","3087161-f0dc31db1e756d96f25be2dc58d39bce","parentId",3087161,"title","Cowlitz County OKs $400,000 amendment for landfill Cell 10 design; public raises transfer-station congestion","audioSeconds",1135,"startMs",3305000,"endMs",4440000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3087161-f0dc31db1e756d96f25be2dc58d39bce&start=3305&end=4440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3087161-f0dc31db1e756d96f25be2dc58d39bce/thumbnail_3305000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6266297/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-OKs-400000-amendment-for-landfill-Cell-10-design-public-raises-transfer-station-congestion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266297-9ad426e0540271aa7dfa2ee3780e90af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135362&Signature=EKkYLBLv1~S9ZGD-rN3OZG6lbPsT9YQ155OtTvT46v26iI1f4LR9JXju9XL6TcWC2TL2UiA5JW65Csrzs0dhclIxTAnRt1X6YDiCcxDu1dNTP4T5UQopBOOCoIcVeM9WqTT8oI3vjVJEfO9zH4mwpp-SnKBUdxH1k-5~HaTziaT21PnjgfqU5KghOk6wjwmRHERKKxi8e01EHqBiZ~mt60BLFuoNLts-AbpZBQ0xIG-7edPLJhhcG3pgTJjBPc210cHceRNQGfAMmr1KioVePXMxpMPhNGP5Wbtkq~xUBwD142P8yc0X~9AL9gIvXdIeVM0KNi4VzuLKjsbex49ftw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-04-23T00:31:40.417Z","article","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved Amendment No. 1 to a professional services agreement with BHC Consultants LLC, increasing the solid-waste engineering contract by $400,000 to a total of $1,000,000 to complete engineering and design for landfill Cell 10.

County public works staff said the amendment covers geologists, hydrologists, civil engineering, gas infrastructure and stormwater work needed to design the liner system and related systems for Cell 10. \"This is just the design for the liner system itself at the landfill,\" said Sean Roehrige, public works staff, during the presentation. Commissioners voted in favor of the amendment.

The board was told staff expects to receive final design and permits in November or December 2025 and to issue a materials procurement bid in December or January; construction is anticipated in 2026, with the county likely moving into Cell 10 in late 2027. Staff said permits generally carry a two‑year timeline with the ability to extend if needed.

County figures supplied during the meeting describe Cell 10 as roughly 16.79 acres with an approximate capacity of 3,700,000 cubic yards and an estimated operational life of about four and three‑quarters years under current waste mix and compaction rates. Staff noted actual cell life varies with the type of incoming waste and compaction; interior cells generally last longer than exterior cells because of geometry and fill patterns.

Staff explained the engineering request reflects advancing the design from an earlier 30% level to a higher design phase and addressing site‑specific conditions discovered in recent work, including areas with higher groundwater than anticipated. Staff also said the contract pays for ongoing operational and site work at Tenant Way (including flare replacement), in addition to the Cell 10 design. County staff summarized industry planning guidance discussed at the meeting: engineering and design commonly run roughly 15% of construction costs, with another ~10% for construction inspection and testing on complex public‑works projects.

Public comment and commissioner discussion broadened the landfill conversation to include operational issues at the county’s Third Avenue transfer station. A resident said commercial haulers and private users experience backups and hazardous maneuvers when trying to access the facility, and asked why the county does not use the Tenant Way facility more. County staff replied that Tenant Way buildings and the dump site have been sold to the Port of Longview and are no longer owned by the county, and that the current transfer station was built in 2007 and has limited space (two self‑tipping bays) and an aging layout. Staff said the county negotiated a limited “contractors only” morning window last year to ease congestion at peak times, and that the county continues to work with the private operator (Waste Control) to optimize traffic flow.

A public commenter noted Waste Control’s contract runs until 2044 and urged the county to press for improved service or consider alternatives. Staff said Waste Control has been receptive to conversation but that any major changes would require negotiations or new infrastructure; county staff also confirmed the landfill no longer has rail access.

Votes at a glance

- Amendment No. 1, professional services agreement with BHC Consultants LLC: motion to approve passed (voice vote, three ayes). Amendment increases contract by $400,000 to $1,000,000 for Cell 10 engineering and design; permits and bids expected late 2025; construction anticipated 2026; move into Cell 10 late 2027. (Referenced in transcript at topicintro s=3305.215; topfinish s=4110.025.)

- Approval of minutes for April 14–16: motion passed (voice vote, yeas recorded). (Transcript s=2847.775–2864.35.)

- Consent agenda (includes calls for hearings and bids listed on the consent agenda): motion passed (voice vote, yeas recorded). Consent items included calls for hearings on surplus vehicle disposal (05/13/2025), an amendment to the 2025 budget to dissolve an internal purchasing services fund, and an amendment to Chapter 6.13 (Cowlitz County Code) on dangerous animals to move hearings to the county hearing examiner. (Transcript s=2873.21–2957.625.)

Why it matters: The engineering amendment advances a multi‑year landfill expansion that staff says is necessary to preserve disposal capacity; the transfer‑station operational concerns raised by contractors and residents underscore local infrastructure limits and potential service and cost implications for commercial haulers and public users.

What’s next: Staff expects to return with final designs, permit approvals and a recommended construction bid schedule later this year; county staff and commissioners said they will continue talks with the private transfer‑station operator about traffic flow and contractor access.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved Amendment No. 1 to a professional services agreement with BHC Consultants LLC, increasing the solid‑waste engineering contract by $400,000 to a total of $1,000,000 to complete Cell 10 landfill design.","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},6266287,"Commissioners credit public engagement after Port of Woodland TIF effort fails; urge continued oversight",692,4261000,4953000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3087161-f0dc31db1e756d96f25be2dc58d39bce&start=4261&end=4953","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3087161-f0dc31db1e756d96f25be2dc58d39bce/thumbnail_4261000.jpg","/articles/6266287/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Commissioners-credit-public-engagement-after-Port-of-Woodland-TIF-effort-fails-urge-continued-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266287-419de0a5f38ec758b3f1bb3ae8d5e90f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135362&Signature=mz20fpmso8PMUUfc5f9ICmnC-48bTDVEYrOHtknfoNKcmKXixl7iC82vNakgnzY3-A~eLnsee~4XWQH6RHHCaGF0OeH1Y3lwo0PswFZWwnsmQrr0t98gii3wjT9OgzouuGqPN2j-QURdo1ve7oC~dzojuv9nDpFyFBI7rqX9m9ozLoJjH~~yAPgZaZ9s6M46uQFg~kvIOaKz94~yEul3SfytUnZGHvrl9kxJdGLnEqlDTFPa4kNxR0E75yK4OvBNxV2CLalI3x8p~8Y3QPjNh-iCey-i6Fjt2pQ397FJYRFy~HFQi5Talz0Kknr0yxygwoYDaVKP0XQHzyvWr7oqlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several public commenters and commissioners discussed the recent Port of Woodland tax‑increment financing (TIF) proposal and its rejection by port commissioners. County commissioners described their office’s public meetings and communications as part of a broader public engagement effort that helped generate community opposition to a 25‑year TIF proposal.

Commissioners said they had taken a formal position opposing the TIF and participated in public meetings, city council sessions and port hearings. Chairman Dahl and other commissioners told the meeting they were pleased the proposal drew enough public testimony to prompt the port commission vote against the TIF. Commissioners said the next step is working with state legislative representatives to consider guardrails or clarifications for TIF programs so affected taxing districts have more involvement earlier in the process.

Public commenters praised the commissioners’ engagement and asked the county to keep monitoring similar proposals from municipalities. No formal action on the matter was taken at the meeting; the discussion was recorded as public comment and commissioner reflection.","Commissioners said county participation and public turnout helped stall a proposed 25‑year tax increment financing (TIF) plan at the Port of Woodland. Commissioners urged continued vigilance and legislative follow‑up to change statewide TIF rules if needed.",{"_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},6266292,"County correspondence flags jail‑health contractor departures after multimillion‑dollar verdicts",164,3052000,3216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3087161-f0dc31db1e756d96f25be2dc58d39bce&start=3052&end=3216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3087161-f0dc31db1e756d96f25be2dc58d39bce/thumbnail_3052000.jpg","/articles/6266292/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-correspondence-flags-jailhealth-contractor-departures-after-multimilliondollar-verdicts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266292-b4c61deb272c0bcd68f7fe68e7d66b08/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135362&Signature=NTCKZQfuI65qQQodGVVaSrUyH3MZnegDB908uYVcaF~7ufz3FmBBOJ~JZQRdXQn3AKQE25twnwrvWpDXVWGOq~M1gXVaP8lw4S1niAi2X-XtAaGz7Vlx-aV8fvp7S3QqV9~3demRa0y6J7pR6TV~5oz8ZEB8bMkAtNPisnFX7QpHnQm2VJzzbWyFr5jOEE7AZZ8od2~QGh0UhLkzz3dKqdBFKVNgTogg6cOI4ov6LVq6Ui8RB8PwAqi8JZuB5Kn6oeJ~qM4rwVs~Ef6tcnA3Fxn5y~sL4Z2~3hGdsz2cGM4VsMfxhSR1Q1I1tjR-gYcZoQetxca0QQ9ujSOIxbI3kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County correspondence presented to the Board of Commissioners included a letter from law firm Perkins Coie describing provider changes affecting jail health care in Washington state. Staff said Ever Health Operations (contracting arrangements described in the correspondence) and the related company NAF Care are withdrawing from Washington; county staff said a replacement vendor must be identified by September 2025.

Commission staff summarized two court decisions cited in the correspondence as factors affecting vendor withdrawal: a plaintiff award of $25,000,000 in KPA v. Nafcare (Pierce County Jail matter referenced by staff) and reported punitive damages in a Spokane County case styled Cindy Hill v. NAF Care. County staff said those large awards have influenced vendor market decisions and that counties currently contracting for jail health care may face higher costs for vendor services and insurance as companies exit the market.

Why it matters: County jails are required to provide health care to people in custody; the loss of an existing vendor means the county will need to procure another provider and may see contract costs rise. Staff advised the board that finding a new vendor by the September deadline will be difficult given market conditions described in the correspondence.

What the board heard: Staff called attention to the letter dated April 15 (Perkins Coie) and explained that the vendor exit was linked to litigation exposure and large awards; the board did not take formal action but recorded the correspondence and discussed procurement implications for county corrections and budget planning.","Cowlitz County received notice that a contractor providing health care in Washington jails is withdrawing from the state after large court awards against a vendor; county staff said a replacement vendor must be identified by September and that costs may rise.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cowlitz County OKs $400,000 amendment for landfill Cell 10 design; public raises transfer-station congestion

Commissioners credit public engagement after Port of Woodland TIF effort fails; urge continued oversight

County correspondence flags jail‑health contractor departures after multimillion‑dollar verdicts