Cowlitz County commissioners approve routine business, table juvenile detention contract

At their April 14 meeting, the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners handled routine business before a public hearing and an extended workshop.

The board approved minutes from April and moved to adopt a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in the county; Mike Wallen of the Lower Columbia Association of Realtors thanked the board for the recognition. The board also approved the consent agenda, which included a call for bids for the 2026 countywide striping project (bid opening May 11, 2026, 1:30 p.m.), a recorded rescission of an emergency possession and use agreement for emergency stormwater repair on Sweet Birch Drive, a retirement letter for Sergeant Ryan Cruiser, and a petition for a no-parking zone at 2425 Klima River Road. Vouchers of $9,656,009.68 were noted.

On a separate agenda item, juvenile court submitted a request to delay consideration of juvenile detention contract agreements to allow more time to work with civil and risk management and with other counties. George Moyer of juvenile court requested a 30–45 day hold; commissioners agreed to table the contracts until the June 2 meeting to allow contract language and liability concerns to be addressed. The board took no final procurement or contract action at the meeting.

The board recessed for the Ziply/Zipli franchise public hearing and then held a work session on Mount Saint Helens topics; those items are covered in separate reports.