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County finance director presents rural public‑facilities grant applicants; commissioners have funds to cover requests
Summary
Finance director Kathy Funk Baxter summarized rural public facilities applications from cities, ports and fire districts totaling less than available funds; commissioners scheduled applicant presentations and asked for more project detail at future meetings.
Kathy Funk Baxter, Cowlitz County finance director, presented summaries of applications to the county’s rural public facilities funding program and said the county has sufficient funds to cover the requests submitted this year.
Baxter listed applicant projects and requested amounts, including: City of Castle Rock (water-main extension; total project ~$959,000; county request $550,000); Cowlitz County Fire District No. 5 (training structure; total ~$85,000; county request $50,000); a city project listed as "Grama" (applicant as recorded in the application; project increased cost, asking $500,000); Port of Longview (Northrail capacity addition; total ~$4.5 million; request split $500,000 for 2025 and $500,000 for 2026); City of Longview (park pro-shop roof and siding replacement; request $450,000); Cowlitz Economic Development Council (personnel funding; asking $115,000 per year for three years); Cowlitz County Fire District No. 2 (Rose Valley fire station: combined request $300,000; staff recommended funding as grants); and a dredge-materials feasibility study (~$121,000) proposed to be funded from interest income rather than the rural public-facilities pot.
Baxter told the board the county expects roughly $3 million available for the year (including fund balance and incoming revenue) and that, as submitted, the applications fall within available funding. She said some projects asked for multi-year commitments or phased payments and that she will require applicants to present details; applicant presentations are scheduled for April 16 (as calendared) so the board can hear project specifics and history.
Commissioners asked for applicants to present so the board can hear how past county funding has been used and to evaluate longer-term proposals (for example, the Cowlitz Economic Development Council’s 3‑year request). Baxter said she will require applicants to present and will invite staff or applicants to return to address questions.
Ending: Staff will invite applicants to present project details on the scheduled date, provide commissioners with project histories where relevant, and return funding recommendations after presentations.
