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Residents ask county to fix clogged culvert and to explain housing funding
Summary
During public comment, residents urged the county to clear a nearly plugged culvert at Old Pacific Highway South to avoid highway flooding and asked for detailed reporting on how $50,000 in county funds were spent by Southwest Washington Housing Opportunities and occupancy details for a West Longview project.
Several members of the public used the meeting’s public‑comment period to press the county on local infrastructure and housing spending.
Robert Portner (Speaker 10) said a four‑foot concrete culvert at Old Pacific Highway South near Fulbright Road (Pin Creek) is “about 75% plugged” and at risk of causing highway flooding; he said he has received promised callbacks from county staff in past years that did not materialize. Commissioner (Speaker 3) acknowledged Portner’s remarks, took down his contact information and said he would follow up with Public Works.
Another commenter (Speaker 11) asked commissioners to request a report from Southwest Washington Housing Opportunities on how the county’s $50,000 contribution was used at a West Longview site, including occupancy rates and how many residents moved there from Camp Hope. The commenter said construction costs at the West Longview facility exceeded $400,000 per unit and requested transparency on ongoing monthly stipend payments that county funds may support. Chair (Speaker 1) said staff would provide billing details and that the board would ask for information from the housing provider.
Ending: County staff committed to follow up with Public Works on the culvert complaint and to provide billing details regarding the housing provider’s use of county funds; no formal board action was taken during the comment period.
