Cowlitz County updates: HOJ deli near opening, north parking lot trees eyed for removal and feasibility study launched for Hall of Justice

Mike Moss, Cowlitz County public services director, told the board that the HOJ deli is close to receiving a health-department inspection and staff hope to set an opening date in April or May.

The deli presentation described leased and purchased equipment now on site and staffing plans. Moss said the county procured a refrigerated deli case and leased a drip coffee maker, espresso machine and a countertop ice maker; the operation will initially be staffed by one temporary employee. “We are working with the health department to get our official approval to open the doors,” he said, and added he expects an inspection next week.

County staff also asked the board to approve removing 11 mature London plane (London Plains in packet) trees from the north parking lot. Moss said arborists told the county the trees’ aggressive roots have uplifted curbs and broken parking stalls; the county’s bid to remove the trees was about $15,000 and staff recommended using a third party because of the trees’ height. Moss said removing the trees would allow reconfiguring the lot, relocate an elections drop box and avoid spending on paving that would soon be damaged again by roots. The county plans to consult with Elections and nearby property owners on reconfiguration and said Wells’ Zoo has no objection to removing the fence between properties.

On building repairs, Moss showed photos of a damaged skylight in an administrative hallway and said a roofer on the county contract inspected the damage; staff expect a quote and plan to tarp the opening while they evaluate whether to replace the skylight(s) or roof sections. He also noted the county has a larger roof project scheduled for this summer.

Savannah Clement, public services, presented an HOJ feasibility study the county received in September and described the study’s purpose: to provide factual analysis of the building’s current condition and options, including renovation, expansion, replacement on county land or leasing alternatives. Clement said the study is not being presented for approval and that she is not asking the board for a decision at this time: “Today, I am not asking for any approval or recommendation at this time.”

Clement said the study will include rough cost estimates for upgrading the building to current energy, accessibility and structural standards, plus options to build new and to upfit leased space. She said the county pared the consultants’ original price (which had been about $334,000) and negotiated the scope down to a figure the county is comfortable with in the roughly $150,000 range. Clement also said Millig (the county’s energy consultant) is handling investment-grade energy audit work separately and that the feasibility study will address plumbing, structural and expansion constraints — including known settlement in the building’s basement and levee/right-of-way setbacks that could limit horizontal expansion.

Clement said the feasibility study is also intended to support applications for rural funding; she reported the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) toured the facility and indicated the county would need a feasibility study to support competitive grant applications. She told the board she will return with a timeline and additional cost/timeline details after following up with the consultant.

Board members asked about sequencing with other ongoing studies, expansion constraints near the levee, and whether upgrade costs make renovating the abandoned upper jail level practical. Clement and staff said those trade-offs are exactly what the feasibility work is intended to clarify.

Ending: Staff said they will provide the feasibility study electronically to new board members, will follow up with the consultant about a timeline and will return to the board with updated schedule and cost details.