[{"_1":2,"_134":-5,"_135":-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",[32,75,87,99,111,123],{"_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",6198412,"mediaKeyId","3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a","parentId",3846927,"title","Commissioners authorize chair to sign grievance response","audioSeconds",25,"startMs",2073000,"endMs",2098000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a&start=2073&end=2098","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a/thumbnail_2073000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6198412/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Commissioners-authorize-chair-to-sign-grievance-response","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198412-3d8ed8f57d85fa20fe2925c2e45d4702/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695239&Signature=Z2t7cntCcalHBXlk4sWElBhs-9VXj9e5viamdEFr5UM8p6Syo8-6DftUgZVXDA8F1UbBmhMOqygWQAT0lOX8jaNoAj6oKy2bMadO9UUsOPaO~2hae9yxhVaFvHffB-FG-ctzc~B67Acv2WXG1Twksxvtv93LHgb5ESiKbOCeKwf10IYqlQ-1s8ugXT5fQCoe2g3NBRNvUhtBNFl~2z1eVQOb-3qhATZjg2cur9-TLFPopTVEx1QDhAeol~SkDo9SsFCKa0iYeVu~J5wq1MLyJPg2DPbbahNuKbukpSmq-s0571P1KYR3cLD8rpkvia-L31YKc7sniPQyem8Ym-e0vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-06-16T18:09:17Z","article","Following executive session, the board returned to open session and considered a request to authorize the chairman to sign a grievance response.

A commissioner moved “to authorize you to sign the, response to the grievance that was before the board,” and the chair called for the question. The transcript records members responding “Aye.”

The board confirmed the motion and authorized the chair to sign the grievance response with content “substantially presented to the board,” as staff described.

Ending: The transcript does not record individual roll-call votes; staff recorded that the board authorized the chair to sign the response and will proceed to finalize the document.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monday Business Meeting - 06.16.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Commissioners voted to authorize the chairman to sign a grievance response presented to the board; the board called the question and approved the motion by voice vote, with individual votes not recorded in the transcript segment.","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},6198416,"Public Works to contract out road striping, county moves to fill several operational positions",278,1676000,1954000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a&start=1676&end=1954","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a/thumbnail_1676000.jpg","/articles/6198416/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Public-Works-to-contract-out-road-striping-county-moves-to-fill-several-operational-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198416-89e206030fcec4df6218d0ef80d610bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695239&Signature=n3xJDPHLogtaDhp~KKeqat~AUas6CMkxY2-iLzKb4FMcBtFUK6nJjM9cQggMWY46u7bKFgE3BXGj8gYIoDeEOhhums2ah7H2xZQRqeyQ7iewajFDw1EAxVVpaojJNyV7L-c3K97joQuomdi4y-kBw9D8xoI5nM~eN4aAelPXLgHNG9Qq5Rylx8guiJDUPp39FI1JasPo9MAHMyuk6YlGccGCVt24AgLCBEFZb2XR1cnOfnL5DMTdZX7-yuy9DVnm0XCGcRN4TeAmMuUYR1g8Ej6fBF5GVhfTEL2hZTFgd9aIRFoFTwczYVNXff-Pmm7e6mWAZnkvsaiu2DtKQZ5~aQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Services Director Mike Moss told commissioners the county compared the cost of buying a striping truck with continuing to contract out road striping and found no near-term return on investment for buying the truck.

“We did get pricing for the striping truck itself and with tax and delivery, it was $830,000,” Moss said. He said the county’s striping contract this year came in at $538,000. Moss summarized the county’s internal estimate as: “we are looking about $4.50 to $5.50 to $5.60 to do it in house, and and all stripes came in at $5.38.” (Units were not specified in the meeting transcript.)

Given the comparison, Moss said the county will contract the striping this year and review the decision in future budget cycles if market conditions change. He said the county had retained budget authority for both options during the budget process and will reassess when contract prices trend upward.

Moss and staff also presented several requests to fill vacant positions. Public Works asked to fill a road crew supervisor vacancy (one of four supervisory slots), a role left open since December while staff assessed striping options. The health department requested permission to fill a customer service specialist at the public counter after an employee gave notice. IT requested authorization to fill an IT specialist position up to level 4 following an employee’s two‑week notice. Public Works also requested authorization to recruit for a senior engineer to replace an open civil engineer position.

Commissioners asked questions about budget alignment and confirmed the fill requests work through the county’s approved budgets; staff said vacancies created short-term savings but that the county will refill essential operational positions.

Ending: The board indicated support for the fill requests; specific hires will proceed through the county’s recruitment and HR processes.","After comparing an $830,000 estimate for an in-house striping truck with a contractor bid of $538,000, Public Works decided to keep striping contracted out and will revisit buying equipment in future budget cycles; commissions approved requests to fill a vacant road supervisor and other departmental counter and IT specialist positions.",{"_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},6198421,"County advances plan for consolidated sheriff storage building at fairgrounds",225,1271000,1496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a&start=1271&end=1496","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a/thumbnail_1271000.jpg","/articles/6198421/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-advances-plan-for-consolidated-sheriff-storage-building-at-fairgrounds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198421-dfd59a72f357d6eac7cf77112530a921/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695239&Signature=hEE6b24ZDZmqK~0lyFhYCAubKLzOTIL3Y8XfC0WTDqCQ2I4SlL5QAC-506sEgN-gVeCuLTxh50fVomwYkWy84BaLdpuXevRNCPPL8EVtNhCKZpRJNNq756Q2rCf8AVLuOD3h3tkiaS5qu06pHv97ms8kSEdGpJrPGTDuwi124HVKrYrGqg~SDOWVdhH7tUVgVERvShdcen3h5SHHu86gMtKW1R3SIp~yt70Emw0l9AHBfsBFYezMNcTHWRRxE~5r-Io2U2diVe49U9t2kXuuXI-Vvwo2GO8zzGFt6OA0vldER56wB3hNrlfk-bPMQuPfUvKGTNDy-XsYFIHipdfQFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mike Moss, Cowlitz County public services director, described plans to build a consolidated storage building for the sheriff’s office on fairgrounds property, noting the project has been in the county’s multiyear plans and budget.

Moss said the project footprint is 65 by 100 feet with 16-foot eaves and eight steel overhead doors (four sized 16 by 14 feet and four sized 12 by 14 feet). The bid package will include site preparation, foundation work, building erection, door installation and electrical work. “We have somebody set aside in our 5 year budget for this this year for that project,” Moss said.

Jordan Spencer, speaking online for the sheriff’s office, said consolidating storage would gather two trailers with boats used for quick response, a mobile command unit, the Bearcat and other vehicles that currently are dispersed across county facilities and rented storage units. “This would be keeping all of our emergency equipment, located at 1 area with the addition of having our, some evidence storage,” Spencer said, adding the county hopes to store “up to 4, 4 to 5 vehicles” for evidence related to search warrants.

Moss said the county originally considered building smaller storage near the Public Works parking lot but moved the location to the fairgrounds because the new building is larger and the earlier site had stormwater constraints. Commissioners noted strong bidding activity in the market and said the timing may help secure competitive construction bids.

Ending: The county issued a call for bids; staff will review bids and return with a contract recommendation and schedule once responses are received.","Public Works presented a planned 65-by-100-foot metal storage building at the fairgrounds — located across from the morgue — to consolidate sheriff storage of boats, command unit, Bearcat and evidence vehicles; the county will issue a call for bids and has budgeted the work in its five-year plan.",{"_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},6198424,"Cowlitz County awards guardrail contract, adds surfacing vendor and schedules overlay work",149,1038000,1187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a&start=1038&end=1187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a/thumbnail_1038000.jpg","/articles/6198424/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-awards-guardrail-contract-adds-surfacing-vendor-and-schedules-overlay-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198424-df3860177002a953c25540695268e8f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695239&Signature=o0M66cvbzVxu4kwaJqRV4RzRCVQHH7~rqQVVwytZ5mjVPK76MAsNc3iKY8owiItTNqSDU1J3GZt0ooLNSLuCG3oid8BUj~RzIC6hzciKLwAVJv8Fv06rI4BJ7ha-g-uHSiBtawUG5hF1G8C0-IqqGvhPt6qKmnCbjXNB0SgwmW6qz24cBmYS8zVEZq1dgQFR4BjES25gevMCOk01ILraCpRnSIRTPtCqlUXIb6caMTYaDyyJHPaW3lTsHoj91sD758bbTISlHVUVI3n4mXP0uXLF3L6WW4WxHguva5BxH3cZp-0z9nkjYaS~waL1XVVSHWw-U2s3~D9cf179CKmKaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Susan Eugene, Cowlitz County engineer, briefed the commissioners on several Public Works procurement items, including a countywide guardrail project, an addition to the road-surfacing supplier list and an overlay contract expected to start in July.

Eugene said the bid for the 2025 countywide guardrail project was awarded to Dirt and Aggregate Interchange for $298,888 after the county received five bidders and the low bids came in “well below the engineer’s estimate.” She said the county’s review showed savings largely in mobilization and in the unit pricing for both regular and long-post Type 3 guardrail.

“This is a safety project, so 90% of the cost is covered by federal highways,” Eugene said.

On the consent agenda, Eugene said the county will add JL Stordahl to its list of approved vendors for road-surfacing materials after reopening the solicitation and accepting a new bidder. She also said Lakeside Industries completed paperwork for an overlay project awarded May 27 and is expected to begin work in July.

Commissioners noted a stronger-than-usual year for competitive bids across public-works solicitations; Eugene and commissioners observed more contractors appear to be seeking work this spring. The county said it will proceed with contract execution and scheduling for the overlay and guardrail projects per procurement rules.

Ending: Eugene said staff will complete the contract paperwork so contractors may begin mobilization on the awarded projects.","County engineer recommended awarding a countywide guardrail project to Dirt and Aggregate Interchange for $298,888 (about 90% federally funded), added JL Stordahl to the approved sellers list for surfacing materials and cleared paperwork for Lakeside Industries to begin a July overlay project.",{"_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},6198427,"Sheriff’s office seeks three-year extension of WatchGuard contract for cameras and cloud storage",120,744000,864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a&start=744&end=864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a/thumbnail_744000.jpg","/articles/6198427/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Sheriffs-office-seeks-three-year-extension-of-WatchGuard-contract-for-cameras-and-cloud-storage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198427-1031f0669aeffff238ba9cd1fb991ba2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695239&Signature=UTOwaXdHZDQ1rJiPLzRFHOJqQ9vFeF32gKbsdZN~sl86u5Hc4hVxUBEQ~gikVIHt7mWcwSTVsL4zjf8t1lGatIjCmMf0nvm6WvI~h0rXXj4GXL26i8XkVcsgNZmb9~b~Bzme3fv0m4-mSPmFVUR5vecrfQkJOANQGG7PoOtRcvN7JWyzzvMIysgEmqNFbUq5A~hMKAQr30WSzQT7yVNKmSndqUaULZ4F95SHOtZsDZEPA~1ls2LnGDHmb00H4LoIvdRbPSJlL~hSf8kfNiswEyoWqkC62XMFiCHDDggYqBqIR7Yo~orfdF9T~5xfPIUwyo2G1jLXhmRBp2pNqjE~eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bill, chief deputy with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, asked the commissioners to approve a three-year extension of the county’s WatchGuard contract, which covers squad-car dash cameras and body-worn cameras as well as cloud storage of recorded evidence.

“This proposed contract, would have a total cost of around a $190,000 over 3 years, split with 3 payments, in August of each year starting in August of 27,” Bill said, adding the annual cost would be about $63,483. He said the extension would include one refresh of the department’s body-worn cameras and would allow the county to keep existing vehicle cameras for an additional three years.

Bill said the county initially contracted with WatchGuard in August 2022 and that extending the current system is expected to be more cost-effective than switching brands or platforms. He described the contract’s cloud storage as providing redundancy and reliable digital evidence storage compared with on-site storage.

Commissioners asked whether the extension locks in lower pricing; Bill said the county is seeking to “get this offer by doing it now” because prices would likely be higher if the county waited.

The sheriff’s office said the first payment under the extension would be due in August 2027 and that the extension would run through August 2030. The office noted other local agencies have chosen competitor brands but that switching vendors can be costly and disruptive to evidence workflows.

Ending: Commissioners did not vote publicly on the item during the segment; staff indicated they would process the contract extension through the normal agenda and contracting procedures.","Chief deputy presented a proposal to extend the county’s WatchGuard contract for a three-year term beginning August 2027, with an expected total cost of about $190,000 and an annual payment of roughly $63,483; the contract would include a refresh of body-worn cameras and continued cloud evidence storage.",{"_33":124,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":125,"_41":126,"_43":127,"_45":127,"_47":128,"_49":129,"_51":130,"_53":131,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":132,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":133,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6198429,"Cowlitz County finance staff review IT operating and reserve funds, note vacancies and planned outsourcing",0,1128000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a&start=1128&end=1128","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3846927-96e7c47b53d86d6fe17676ceff74fa1a/thumbnail_1128000.jpg","/articles/6198429/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-finance-staff-review-IT-operating-and-reserve-funds-note-vacancies-and-planned-outsourcing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198429-4da1f93308e083086f3eb9ca303430a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695239&Signature=AirUREQVV4EU-qLIxPQph6veBbVAV0KiBXKzThyoAJNoFhOPXKlNe1DzabH-wM8biPaANb7hOQXxlqR9d9ba8vPjZ3LNFUT~y6pKGbvp-F6YmsrhBeqyq6zOoqw2pcX0LeExSWmgsNrIra8333tSFu84ywwy7dilIis2gy-B~ZVJk5yS6HPFKg3FMGozpga0FANnff3~2m7XxmfH7vXhGN7ZhpZhqVfZNIJzfUlF1HGALIgpDJD16D5E-wb~mvAi38woOusokH5MfwlEBIpqZzf79mZ1nKMF9-gCAWLNzPetAnuuZMxi7BJmLvy0EeeffLwqhb4Qsj1xIMWCBhulZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Susie Moon, Cowlitz County finance manager, told the Board of County Commissioners the county’s IT operating fund and IT reserve fund are both funded but show timing variances as the department works through vacancies and scheduled renewals.

“So overall, they have about 5,200,000.0 budgeted in revenues,” Moon said, describing the operating fund. She said the largest source of that revenue is charges billed to other county departments for IT goods and services, billed annually in January. Moon added the county budgeted about $80,000 in miscellaneous operating revenue, “mainly be investment earnings.”

Moon explained personnel costs are currently below the monthly target because the department “does have 3 vacancies,” and licenses and annual renewals often fall in the third or fourth quarter, which also affects year-to-date comparisons. She said the county recorded an accounting entry related to subscription or subscription-like IT arrangements that added about $176,000 in debt-service-style reporting that was not budgeted, which affected the transfers line for the fund.

An IT staff member who participated online said the county intends to use third-party vendors for some specialized services rather than immediately filling every vacancy. “One of those positions has been vacant because the intent is not to replace that position, with a FTE, right, a regular employee, but to use a third party, service as for that specialty service,” the staff member said.

On the reserve fund, Moon said the county is budgeting about $5.1 million factoring the beginning fund balance; miscellaneous revenue is roughly $200,000 and the county is on target for about $65,000 of that so far. She said the county expects to submit a budget amendment in August to record insurance recoveries; the dollar amount for that amendment “is not sure at this time,” Moon said.

Moon also outlined planned reserve spending: supplies in the reserve include $491,000 set aside to replace rugged laptops for the sheriff’s department, and services include about $300,000 of a $424,000 budget for professional services tied to previously purchased tools such as disaster recovery and backup implementations. She noted the reserve fund does not include FTEs and is intended to cover equipment replacement and licensing.

The commissioners asked about how the annual transfer into reserves (about $402,000 in the current budget) is calculated; Moon said that formula is established in the budget process and that she will follow up to provide details. The IT staff member said the finance office and IT collaborate to estimate the total asset replacement needs during budget cycles.

Commissioners and staff agreed the county is refining its asset-replacement planning year to year and will monitor vacancies, outsourcing options and the pending budget amendment.

Ending: Moon said staff will return with additional details on the reserve-transfer calculation and any specific dollar amounts tied to the anticipated insurance-recovery budget amendment.","Finance staff briefed the Cowlitz County commissioners on two IT funds, reporting about $5.2 million in operating revenue, $5.1 million in reserve resources and three vacancies in the IT department; staff said the county plans some outsourcing for specialty work and expects a budget amendment later this year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners authorize chair to sign grievance response

Public Works to contract out road striping, county moves to fill several operational positions

County advances plan for consolidated sheriff storage building at fairgrounds

Cowlitz County awards guardrail contract, adds surfacing vendor and schedules overlay work

Sheriff’s office seeks three-year extension of WatchGuard contract for cameras and cloud storage

Cowlitz County finance staff review IT operating and reserve funds, note vacancies and planned outsourcing