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Cowlitz County approves sole‑source procurement of Pano AI detection at county landfill
Summary
The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners approved a sole‑source procurement to install a Pano AI camera and plume‑detection system on a county radio tower to speed detection of landfill and other fires; county staff estimated about $40,000 annually for a five‑year term.
Cowlitz County commissioners on Wednesday approved a sole‑source procurement to install a Pano AI rapid‑detection camera on a county tower to detect early‑stage fires near the county landfill.
The system is intended to detect smoke plumes and notify an operator through an AI filter; staff said an operator reviews alerts before dispatching county crews or notifying local fire departments. Savannah Clement, Public Works, said landfill fires "occur, I would say regularly, and by that, I mean maybe weekly on the fill as we are covering garbage." Clement described Pano AI as "essentially a camera, a video camera on top of a tower" that provides continuous monitoring and a wide area of coverage.
The county characterized the purchase as sole source because it uses a specific detection and AI review workflow. Public Works projected the service at about $40,000 per year for a five‑year term; the board approved the procurement as a step toward returning later with a final contract for execution.
Why it matters: landfill fires can start outside normal operating hours and spread quickly; county staff and commissioners said the system would shorten notification and response times and provide ancillary monitoring that could alert responders to other nearby structure or vegetation fires.
How it works and who will use it: County staff said the system provides a 360‑degree view from each tower, includes optical zoom and remote access for multiple users, and uses AI to flag suspicious plumes before a human reviewer confirms and calls dispatch. Staff noted partner users in the region and other utilities use the same system, including the Washington Department of Natural Resources and federal agencies.
Board action: Commissioner K. made a motion to approve the sole‑source procurement (item 6). After a final call for public comment, the motion passed by voice vote (ayes recorded). The board directed staff to return with the executed contract for signature and implementation details; staff estimated deployment within three to six weeks after contract execution.
The board did not specify which tower contract or lease terms beyond naming the Signal Peak tower as a nearby structure on the illustrative map staff discussed.
Ending: Staff and commissioners said the system was identified during a recent emergency‑management workshop as a relatively low‑cost improvement to detection and response. The board moved on to other items following the vote.
