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County warns Camp Hope garbage-disposal grant funding has ended; staff to meet Longview about future roles
Summary
Cowlitz County staff told commissioners a grant that covered part of garbage-disposal costs for Camp Hope and related sites has ended; the county has been paying about $1,000 monthly for its share and staff proposed short-term continuation while seeking funding alternatives and meeting with the city of Longview.
County public works staff told the Board of Commissioners that a grant previously used to subsidize part of the garbage-disposal costs at Camp Hope (Alabama Street site) has expired and the county’s grant funding for that service is about to run out.
Staff said the county had paid roughly half of the disposal costs (the county’s portion has averaged around $1,000 per month and the board previously set a cap at $1,500 per month). Staff said the funding source that covered the county portion previously was a COVID-related emergency grant through the health department that later transitioned to a county-administered grant; the most recent grant does not include funding for the disposal item.
Commissioners discussed options. One commissioner said he would not be inclined to continue open-ended county funding without a say in program operations. Staff proposed looking for alternate grant sources and recommended meeting with the city of Longview—whose staff had been cooperating on the camp’s operations—to clarify cost-sharing and to align expectations for any county contribution going forward. County staff suggested possibly extending the county payment through November while the city’s RFP process for the camp (which staff said expires in November) proceeds.
No final board vote was taken. Staff said they will attempt to schedule a meeting with Longview staff and return to the board with recommendations in the coming weeks.
