[{"_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",6210103,"mediaKeyId","3724272-b0c3db1b4b31c7ef82fcdd05265cfbee","parentId",3724272,"title","Commissioners to consider consent agenda including SWAT pact, Spillman support, Sunrise Village services and landfill electrical closeout","audioSeconds",333,"startMs",6311000,"endMs",6644000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3724272-b0c3db1b4b31c7ef82fcdd05265cfbee&start=6311&end=6644","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3724272-b0c3db1b4b31c7ef82fcdd05265cfbee/thumbnail_6311000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210103/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Commissioners-to-consider-consent-agenda-including-SWAT-pact-Spillman-support-Sunrise-Village-services-and-landfill-electrical-closeout","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210103-0ad67072e2cd5f29810fb740a322ddc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773611400&Signature=ANUMEvC4MEmM7~ySgiP08hh30EmMVFregJd3Y0itYXgDpH23frXtuoIJbHl76NSK69NofB~fiSoY8UTpSQ4wksmiHJFrBHWsCHFrNJBm60gIacaCWgK0Zrs9UBJeJVZRUfbcY9E8Nunp6-MothkllbD1C~0Donf~5caYnuGv2xuZ3cD0IhaM7Q4jLnyyCi1~TfF383yh5EsMO5-Z4a8waOnvepoq1qf3y0HkY7127B6lvAYPJNfLyo7jBZwkB9IJ9QRKUQ1iLX1QQmH-XKiloTvJYEc7noF5YdAsxzyTE9lIMm2IfIAKTMPPib6remNPpXIAgdDRM1N9f9sUaA2FQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-06-09T15:08:00Z","article","Cowlitz County staff on Monday summarized several contracts and updates slated for the consent agenda at the next commissioners’ meeting, including a regional SWAT agreement update, a software support renewal, a supportive‑services contract for a housing project and a landfill electrical contract completion.

A sheriff’s office representative said the SWAT and local agreement had been updated from a 2011 version to add the City of Castle Rock to the team. The sheriff’s office noted the county prosecutor’s office (David Berger) drafted the legal language covering mutual‑aid scenarios.

The county’s Spillman records and dispatch software support contract with Reliable Solutions is scheduled for renewal at the same cost for the next three years, the sheriff’s representative said. Staff described the support as 24‑7 technical services covering dispatch, report writing, jail records and records management, and praised the vendor for holding the price stable.

Gina James of Health and Human Services briefed commissioners on a three‑year contract with Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington to provide on‑site supportive services at Sunrise Village, a newly completed construction project for formerly homeless residents and people fleeing domestic violence. The contract is not to exceed $60,000 for the three years and requires annual written reports; staff noted a DocuSign reporting error will be corrected before final signature. James said Sunrise Village had a grand opening scheduled this week.

Public Works reported a contract completion with Advanced Electrical Technologies for on‑call electrical work at the headquarters landfill for 2023–24; the department spent about $53,000 on that contract in 2024 and will release retainage via the completion paperwork. Public Works explained the contractor performs PLC (programmable logic controller) replacements, transducer and communications work for leachate ponds and other electrical systems.

Staff said these items are planned for the consent agenda and provided brief descriptions; no board vote was taken during Monday’s session. Unless a commissioner pulls an item for separate discussion, the items will be acted on en bloc at the next meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Staff previewed consent agenda items for the next meeting: an updated SWAT mutual‑aid agreement adding Castle Rock, a three‑year maintenance contract for the county’s Spillman records/dispatch software, a $60,000 three‑year supportive‑services contract for Sunrise Village, and a contract completion for landfill electrical work.","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},6210108,"Cowlitz County reports REIT-driven spikes in capital improvements fund; ARPA and courthouse work projected to affect 2025 spending",479,3722000,4201000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3724272-b0c3db1b4b31c7ef82fcdd05265cfbee&start=3722&end=4201","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3724272-b0c3db1b4b31c7ef82fcdd05265cfbee/thumbnail_3722000.jpg","/articles/6210108/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-reports-REIT-driven-spikes-in-capital-improvements-fund-ARPA-and-courthouse-work-projected-to-affect-2025-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210108-e0b890b114381691b2c856e9ef7e564f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773611400&Signature=PZS7sy2NatpQGSJtBdRZyLfHh~rWF4UBqwHZcryiqEZ971WVl6zzk~sKHg9X2mDXncoDdMZB9qoHa6CnbFIvphRq2z3XysziJ8DZp~w1KXiqZgRV6uVhbny4ozD3jEF7VVLV80m-tuYbFsJfzpPkjKw-GBYrhx1Ekrqltp~j36BFWtUhOMecYU9X7Wzx4P1IULUkkOijb6qejyFOxGUzOPeFXgfUdRLXL99f0l91zi7WX7fQ3gzeMVHLO-3cELorAXocW6eIxSCnlkYqTJUccPxMIV3hT0AKbF7VJYeaohpu4xLfCAFT~bxH-D0E6vuU964SE7h40SM4yQaMPNum2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cowlitz County finance staff told the Board of County Commissioners on Monday that the capital improvements fund has experienced intermittent one‑time increases in real estate excise tax revenues tied to ownership transfers, and that planned transfers and ARPA funding will be used for courthouse and other capital projects this year.

Finance Director Kathy Funk Baxter and Public Works staff said the fund is budgeted for $1,025,000 in REIT (real estate excise tax) receipts; through the month reported they had received $620,002.71. Baxter said a $226,000 increase in April was attributable to a WestRock ownership transfer and characterized that as a one‑time “bump.” She also noted a February spike of about $287,000 tied to a Capstone transaction and an earlier November 2018 controlling interest change of about $98,000.

“These are generated as a point 25% on all real estate transactions within Cowlitz County outside of the city jurisdiction,” Public Works staff said, and the fund has varied over recent years — peaking around $1,500,000 in 2021 and falling to roughly $979,000 last year.

Baxter told the board the capital improvements fund also shows $2,000,000 in other financing sources for 2024–25: $1,000,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds expected to be spent this year for the courthouse project, and a $1,000,000 annual transfer from the general fund to keep projects moving. Miscellaneous revenue (primarily investment income) is budgeted at $298,000 for the year; $84,004.83 has been received so far.

On the expense side, staff reported two half‑time positions charged to the fund (budgeted at $109,003.07; $35,006.47 expended to date) and service budgets of $910,009.74 with $65,004.38 expended; many public works projects involve prevailing wage affidavits and state processing that delay payments. The capital expenditures line totals nearly $5.9 million in the current budget, though only $38,111 had been spent as of the report; staff said most large invoices are expected later in the year.

Baxter also noted a $300,000 budgeted transfer to cover annual debt service tied to morgue building and equipment financing; staff said the equipment portion was structured as a 10‑year piece and the building portion as about 20 years and that the building was occupied in 2022. The financing rate on that debt was described as “3 point something percent.”

No formal action was taken; staff said they will continue to monitor REIT revenue anomalies when preparing five‑year forecasts and will present an updated CIP plan to the board. Commissioners asked for continued updates on timing of project spending and on the ARPA amount set aside for courthouse work.","Finance staff told commissioners a recent ownership change in a large property produced a one-time Real Estate Excise Tax (REIT) bump, and that ARPA and other transfers will fund courthouse and capital projects.",{"_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},6210113,"Cowlitz County commissioners spar over closed-door budget workshop; staff to provide participant list",910,4339000,5249000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3724272-b0c3db1b4b31c7ef82fcdd05265cfbee&start=4339&end=5249","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3724272-b0c3db1b4b31c7ef82fcdd05265cfbee/thumbnail_4339000.jpg","/articles/6210113/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-commissioners-spar-over-closed-door-budget-workshop-staff-to-provide-participant-list","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210113-e4a5dfecab1fb134fa8401940bf307ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1773611400&Signature=g9HEZbOGUNulYb84C21ToqXPkhqnpTO1XimDMy9Qs2Sk-fsEGf7Z4-HxD9hgOwOBX7fDIh8GnGSNNgLh5HR-dPWzLxE2rKpafaOqs0XmjG~O2uYQ7m84rovR-oxtzZTyf7REqHhxaKaUfCrNfkbaAUJADh11TKsR9RwQSUVWgWgGxGnbyyMVOdxE~gmFVFNj8rjON8osH5T0DPua-6-8upc5rqepfM8O9NFnB9Xaj730Q~qUQc07trMDrmt0nxQItsvzvOKxjdydflZfYaAcnVW-BzwAdIGwJYGdTdu8P2X-4J8Q2dex3mWnfeRyVnyAGMd8fDdBj2coCwviwWhQdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cowlitz County commissioners on Monday pressed staff for details after county leaders scheduled a budget “workshop” that would take place out of public view, saying residents and elected officials should not be excluded from sessions where public funds are discussed.

The debate began when Commissioner (unnamed) questioned the decision to hold a pre-retreat workshop behind closed doors, saying, “the lens I always look through when I look at things is through the taxpayer,” and asking why the public would be excluded from a meeting that could generate ideas affecting the general fund.

County Finance Director Kathy Funk Baxter and other staff said the closed-session portion was intended as a brainstorming session for department heads to share ideas about reducing the county’s reliance on the general fund — for example, negotiating earlier vendor payments to secure discounts — and that any ideas moving toward formal policy would be brought back for discussion in a public session. Baxter said the formal budget calendar still includes publicly accessible departmental workshops in September and October and that a dedicated workshop on the behavioral/mental health tax is planned.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on scope and process. One commissioner said learning about closures after the fact “is highly unacceptable,” and asked staff to confirm that county customer-facing services would remain open the days of the retreat. Another commissioner requested a roster of participants, saying they want to be able to respond if members of the public report disrupted services.

County staff agreed to provide the requested information. Finance staff confirmed a tentative afternoon budget workshop placeholder for June 23 in the Government Meeting Room and said attendance by department heads and elected officials is voluntary but encouraged. The clerk of the board will handle scheduling and notices for the retreat dates if the items proceed.

The commissioners and staff repeatedly emphasized the distinction between informal internal brainstorming — which staff described as a chance to share “ways to be more efficient and effective and reduce our reliance on the general fund” — and formal budget decisions that must occur in publicly noticed meetings. No formal action or vote was taken during the exchange; commissioners asked for follow-up materials and confirmed they expect the ideas generated in the workshop to be presented at public meetings before any policy change or budget adoption.

The topic is scheduled to return to the board in public budget workshops and as part of the formal budget calendar this fall. Staff committed to circulate the list of departments and participants for the June sessions prior to those dates.","Commissioners questioned why a proposed internal budget workshop would be held without public access and asked staff to provide a list of participating departments and attendees before the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners to consider consent agenda including SWAT pact, Spillman support, Sunrise Village services and landfill electrical closeout

Cowlitz County reports REIT-driven spikes in capital improvements fund; ARPA and courthouse work projected to affect 2025 spending

Cowlitz County commissioners spar over closed-door budget workshop; staff to provide participant list