Cowlitz County staff to seek direct sale of small tax-title parcel to Longview for Columbia Heights road project

Susan Eugenis, Cowlitz County engineer, told the Board of County Commissioners at an afternoon session that the county will place a resolution on Tuesday’s consent agenda to sell a small tax-title parcel to the City of Longview for use in a Columbia Heights roadway project.

Eugenis said the sale would be done by direct negotiation rather than the standard tax-title auction process because the buyer is a municipality and the parcel’s unpaid-tax balance is small. “You will see on your agenda on Tuesday a resolution, stating all the RCWs about why we can sell it in this manner and sell it with direct negotiation to the City of Longview for their use in this particular roadway project,” she said.

The county engineer told commissioners the parcel is “very small,” described as a sliver needed at the intersection of Columbia Heights and Maplewood, and that the county would sell it for the amount owed. When a commissioner asked, “What is the cost of the parcel?” Eugenis replied, “It is right around $2,000.”

Eugenis said the parcel has been held in tax title for some time, has been offered at auction twice without bidders, and therefore appears to have no recourse for a prior owner. She told the board staff would provide additional details by Monday, including exact size and ownership history, before the Tuesday agenda. She also said the resolution will cite the applicable Revised Code of Washington provisions (RCWs) supporting a direct sale to a public entity.

Commissioners did not raise objections at the afternoon session and Eugenis confirmed the item will be placed on the consent agenda for the Tuesday meeting for formal consideration; no vote was taken at the afternoon session.

The county will provide full parcel details and the text of the Tuesday resolution ahead of the consent vote.