Cowlitz County commissioners approve letter supporting Mount St. Helens outdoor school; discuss culverts, juvenile mental‑health center and private‑road rules

Cowlitz County commissioners voted to send a letter of support to the state legislature for the Mount St. Helens Institute’s effort to expand its outdoor school, and approved a consent agenda that included awarding a guardrail installation contract to Columbia River Contractors for $460,310.75 and voucher ratification for Drainage Improvement District No. 1 for $7,075.69.

The letter of support was introduced during the meeting’s consent agenda discussion after staff said the Mount St. Helens Institute had briefed commissioners in a recent workshop and asked for backing for a state funding request. Chair said the institute “do[es] education for students” and described seeing an in‑class demonstration during a prior visit, and commissioners voted to add and approve the letter.

Why it matters: The Mount St. Helens Institute provides field education for K‑12 students at the mountain site; institute leaders told commissioners the program is constrained by limited housing and currently uses the old visitor center for classes. The county’s letter is intended to signal local support as the institute seeks state funding to expand capacity and accommodate more students.

Discussion and other action items: Commissioners spent the remainder of the meeting on several operational and policy matters.

- Culvert replacemen…