Joseph Govetnik, director of the Cowlitz County Historical Museum, told the Board of Commissioners about recent museum operations, vandalism incidents, and community programming, and asked commissioners for a few minutes to review a slide deck of activities.

Govetnik said facilities staff and a contractor expect the museum’s reader board replacement to be operational in October after an installation delay. He reported about 16 facility work orders since March, including five large trash cleanups, two instances of graffiti vandalism and one leaking toilet reservoir. “Unfortunately, the picture of those syringes that was taken this last Friday, we found those on the grounds,” Govetnik said.

Govetnik highlighted community events and partnerships: a spring art show in partnership with the Columbia Artist Association, First Thursday speaker programs, a hot-August “crimes tour” that brought about $3,000 into downtown businesses (the historical society received about $420), and an Eagle Scout project that rehabilitated the county’s historic first jail. He also said the museum applied to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation regarding remnants of a 1947 bomber crash site on private land and has accepted several artifact donations.

On education and outreach, Govetnik said the museum provided about 1,500 attendees at fairgrounds events last year and that school programming (a traveling-trunk program) is operating at capacity with annual increases in student visits. The museum is partnering with the Children’s Discovery Museum for three events and is expanding senior programs and outreach visits to senior centers. Govetnik thanked staff, volunteers and donors who contributed to recent projects.

No formal board action was requested during the update; museum staff sought only to inform commissioners and answer scheduling and facilities questions.