[{"_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",6152347,"mediaKeyId","5498609-fed4b1a8533946631355ec7ab1bfa483","parentId",5498609,"title","Commissioners discuss private mental-health facility plans as state hospital closures loom","audioSeconds",158,"startMs",2800000,"endMs",2958000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5498609-fed4b1a8533946631355ec7ab1bfa483&start=2800&end=2958","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5498609-fed4b1a8533946631355ec7ab1bfa483/thumbnail_2800000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6152347/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Commissioners-discuss-private-mental-health-facility-plans-as-state-hospital-closures-loom","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152347-b185c58ecb570180c498c8aef0b8c104/orig.mp4?Expires=1775621680&Signature=RO5oDhZ1LXJV9pdpGayYF-oWaHAdRPnZbJ0k968JrzgqLt9o4NyzbCnBFu402UUs1gNmfTkLPUH6c62Ebqiws6lVF6GI8wdzDhJFIa07gNvTZNQxkrI6fsMiJYpkf7XmtaC7mKUfs-nyOMYaDRNxM06LGvr9GgNgQVkXZToq28HhKt6089NHG5l~7bQIi1YK22bGfzzgZOiPGT~DMQV4TMsCqsoQoIfFYzIHd7D80zEihg6--BdWa27AIQKAI0lRlkLsprpFfqBuOF7kkQUYzUuMClczuj~6GIuCQCA1A7RYh~1Exm8lhvG4qJchdCA0gLuqaZTJpwBDuq17jLF37g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-07-29T18:36:49Z","article","At Tuesday’s Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners and staff discussed a private proposal to develop a local mental-health and rehabilitation facility, including a property the presenters described as a 16-bed unit purchased at \"Charlie’s.\"
One commissioner said the county appears to be “at the forefront” of an opportunity to provide local capacity as Washington moves to close or reduce services at Western and Eastern State Hospitals, noting the state is under pressure and is facing fines for continuing to operate those facilities. Commissioners and staff discussed whether federal funding from recent executive-level proposals could be tapped to support local facilities.
Speakers urged the county to take a proactive stance rather than waiting for state direction: one commissioner said that if the state lacks a written plan to close the hospitals and rehouse patients, the county should consider drafting recommended approaches and pursue federal funding streams. Another commissioner said staff should continue to identify overlaps between the private proposal and existing county services and seek opportunities to avoid duplication.
County officials said the private group is following Department of Social and Health Services rules for care and that preliminary work is underway; commissioners asked for regular briefings on the proposal and on federal funding prospects. No formal vote or commitment of county funds was recorded at the meeting.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday Public Meeting - 07.29.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members heard an update on a private mental-health facility proposal and discussed opportunities to use federal funding to create local care capacity as Washington plans to close or reduce operations at state hospitals; no formal county commitment was recorded during the meeting.","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},6152352,"County says it sent letters supporting review of sea lion management; resident urges more aggressive removal",325,342000,667000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5498609-fed4b1a8533946631355ec7ab1bfa483&start=342&end=667","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5498609-fed4b1a8533946631355ec7ab1bfa483/thumbnail_342000.jpg","/articles/6152352/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-says-it-sent-letters-supporting-review-of-sea-lion-management-resident-urges-more-aggressive-removal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152352-a9aaa0ba21efff26f1f5450b4c944438/orig.mp4?Expires=1775621680&Signature=ipibwzPaowoLeclrhw46vsdJgedqqAzx6HPATSyWxqawdCBxDX7Q7ITGVZXcS9xjYL45yLlxHVWiEC2RSMP7NssdNH1YaIDWIgr4VirYo~o5Tcsgep2CoYbCNXd-rFDIhwxMvUsOYRf2X6Fm9IQYWdCHkUB8fqVdntpnAPTtqbg7TANTmzwwI6yQrpQMFHDrOywwf9U1FVoqXoW298WcdlZT5198ZmhAVNStWAa5lvNTLzqMzQzNez9Kq3JHXSXV6Q2L1Vq7nuHFoSMF7gJ7ZlFaLTg5S8ar4A4swqS3SF-ZGeIDMqge6MgkqZ6zjk1KTL3SIst5q6repVdt9KAO-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At Tuesday’s Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners meeting, staff said the board sent letters supporting a review of federal sea lion-management policy referenced in the meeting as “1 20 f” and letters to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Rep. Tom Cole and Rep. Rosa DeLauro backing changes to how growing sea lion populations are managed at hydroelectric sites on the Columbia River.
A speaker identified as Flo spoke during the public portion of the consent-item discussion and urged more aggressive removal methods, saying, “Why don't they just shoot them? Their meat can go to many of the wild animal refuges,” and suggested hunters be permitted to harvest animals rather than the current practice described in the meeting of trapping and transporting animals for euthanasia in California.
County staff earlier presented background from a 2018 study cited in the meeting and said California sea lion counts in the Columbia Basin had grown from fewer than 500 animals to about 4,000 in the last decade, and that eastern Steller sea lions are present near Bonneville Dam for most of the year. Staff said the letters request review of the policy to evaluate more humane, efficient removal options and potentially permit harvests.
Commissioners did not take further action on the matter during the meeting; the entries were presented as part of the consent agenda and the consent agenda passed. The transcript does not record any formal changes to county policy beyond sending the support letters.
","During the consent agenda at a Cowlitz County commissioners meeting, staff reported letters of support had been sent to congressional appropriations leaders and the Commerce Department for reviewing federal policies on sea lion removal; a member of the public urged a more aggressive harvest or lethal removal approach to protect salmon runs.",{"_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},6152357,"Neighbor complains county let excavator work critical-area parcel before permits; planning director says permits now in process",1042,984000,2026000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5498609-fed4b1a8533946631355ec7ab1bfa483&start=984&end=2026","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5498609-fed4b1a8533946631355ec7ab1bfa483/thumbnail_984000.jpg","/articles/6152357/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Neighbor-complains-county-let-excavator-work-critical-area-parcel-before-permits-planning-director-says-permits-now-in-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152357-c5a6b846e4638d014fe9788334877d62/orig.mp4?Expires=1775621680&Signature=EveNxpRRqwRVEjkuifadqX6Ql7YkZUnevIOTXhouTPzxpsuD7gQufUwIF6~48beMmrd4mgejeGcUJI~yyNStfaF6i17z1MSxiMqmwgUIeL209QpVKkYCbw3FNHJW5Yqpc6TQavN34Ddvf4kitcaP033RrpT6rCKq~XaSMPWxtSXC4cW98MDpDfDdMB4U1FqpQSGrSTol5OVq0bCHqNs5TRjzVeDr8vta43I-xd-9dQ62QAiXP-RDmW4B6PmectfF20fwyPgOqJsM-Ucz~77GBobQ89wmJVIRRu~O8NYWft0iOSvB-1~xHY7BcR7-UNVzEHmU9fGR2FKsB3APlTo-Dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Tuesday meeting of the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners, Neil Crawford of Kelso said excavation and grading began in May on parcel WJ0214001 off Spirit Lake Highway without completed permits and that adjoining property owner Megan Hubbard and others have reported damage to wetlands, trees and a salmon-bearing stream. Crawford asked why work continued after residents raised concerns and why a stop-work order had not been issued earlier.
Tracy Jackson, director of Cowlitz County Building and Planning, said staff visited the site after neighbors reported work, that the property owner (identified in the meeting as Mr. Roseland) “is working with our department and obtaining the correct permits,” and that crews have stopped working in the creeks while permit reviews proceed.
Crawford told commissioners he had been told by the planning office and nuisance-abatement staff that the decision not to issue a stop-work order initially “came from above,” and he pressed whether county leaders agreed that landowners should not begin work in areas mapped with critical resources. Crawford cited the parcel’s GIS flags for a riparian fish-bearing stream, potential unstable slopes and an old mine, and he referenced state and county law, including the State Environmental Policy Act and county critical-areas code.
Jackson said the county performs site visits when notified, that the contractor started work before applying for permits, and that Building and Planning will route the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist to state agencies including the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Ecology for comment as part of a conditioned permit if required.
Commissioners exchanged views on enforcement and property rights. One commissioner said the county relies on residents to report unpermitted work because staff cannot monitor every parcel; another commissioner said if someone damages a neighbor’s property, the redress may be civil litigation and, in timber trespass cases, state law can allow treble damages. Several speakers emphasized that permits are intended to protect critical resources and noted county staff are trying to “make it right.”
No formal action (motion or vote) to change the permitting process was taken at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to continue oversight of the Roseland permitting process and to update the board as reviews and any needed remediation proceed.
Questions remain for residents about scope and timing: Crawford said neighbors saw ruts up to three feet deep in wetlands and that seeding, tree removal and disturbance to a salmon-bearing creek had occurred; Jackson said staff had stopped creek work and were assisting the property owner with required paperwork so permitting can proceed.
The meeting record shows a multi-party exchange of facts, concerns and next steps rather than a final enforcement action; residents who brought the matter to the county can pursue civil remedies if private property was damaged, and state agencies will review the SEPA checklist once submitted.
","A Kelso resident told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners that heavy equipment began work on parcel WJ0214001 in May without completed permits, damaging wetlands and a salmon-bearing stream; county Building and Planning said the property owner has since applied for required permits and stopped work in creeks while staff completes reviews.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners discuss private mental-health facility plans as state hospital closures loom

County says it sent letters supporting review of sea lion management; resident urges more aggressive removal

Neighbor complains county let excavator work critical-area parcel before permits; planning director says permits now in process