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Cowlitz County seeks bids for surfacing materials, plans $9.935 million South Cloverdale project and closes emergency sewer repair
Summary
County engineer described an upcoming multi-million-dollar South Cloverdale Road project funded by county road funds, CRAB, an FHWA STPBG grant and ARPA; the county also issued annual CRAB certifications, plans to rescind an emergency resolution and closed out an emergency sewer repair contract that billed $52,600.68.
Cowlitz County Public Works presented several consent and project items to the Board of Commissioners, including annual certifications to the County Road Administration Board, a call for bids for surfacing materials, and the bid advertisement for a major South Cloverdale Road improvement project.
County Engineer Susan Eugene told commissioners the department issues an annual call for bids for rock and surfacing materials (riprap, shoulder rock and related base materials) and awards to responsible bidders; contractors are chosen for specific jobs based on cost and proximity.
Eugene said the South Cloverdale Road and South Cloverdale/Todd Road intersection improvement project is going out to bid with a total engineer's estimate of $9,935,000. The project is planned to widen the roadway to add 6-foot shoulders, replace two large culverts (one steel arch and one open-bottom concrete structure), realign curves to improve sight distance approaching the intersection and relocate a conflicting Klamas waterline. She said the county estimates its share at about $3.6 million and that funding will come from a mix of county road funds, County Road Administration Board (CRAB) funds, a Federal Highway Administration STPBG grant and some ARPA funds. Eugene said work is expected to start this summer and is likely to continue into 2026; she characterized it as a two-year project.
On other consent items Eugene said the county filed its 2024 annual CRAB certifications documenting road fund spending and fish-passage work and reported no project diversions. She also presented the project closeout for an emergency gravity sewer repair on International Way performed by Advanced Excavating Specialists; the firm’s original estimate had been over $100,000 but the final bill was $52,600.68 to cover bypass pumping, equipment rental, repair and road restoration. Eugene said the county is working with the attorney on possible recovery from the party that damaged the sewer line and will present a rescission of the emergency resolution on the next agenda.
Commissioners plan public input on hiring non-citizens for law enforcement
A commissioner told staff they have started to receive public inquiries and emails about proposed state legislation that would affect whether non-citizens can serve in armed law-enforcement roles and said they will request public input at the next meeting. The commissioner said they wanted to "get ahead of that and maybe start getting some input because I already getting asked what's the county, what direction are we gonna take, right?" The discussion included concerns about constitutional limitations on armed non-citizens and the broader challenges of recruiting and retaining officers.
No formal votes were recorded on any of the items during this portion of the meeting. Staff said the emergency resolution rescission and the bid actions will appear on the board's agenda for formal action at the next meeting.
Ending
Eugene and commissioners closed the segment by confirming staff would place bid advertisements and proceed with public notice and that the county will return with formal items for vote on the next agenda.
