Board approves consent agenda and issues permit for annual Veronia Marathon

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners approved a multi-item consent agenda and authorized a road-event permit for the 2026 Veronia Marathon during its March 4 meeting.

Consent items: The board ratified support letters for federal funding requests (including a City of Clatskanie wastewater project and Port of Columbia County grant application), approved meeting minutes, authorized payments, approved OLCC and temporary-use applications, approved plats and right-of-way dedications, and ratified multiple contracts and amendments including intergovernmental agreements, data-sharing and demolition change orders. The consent agenda passed with the board voting 'Aye.'

Veronia Marathon permit: Public Works staff introduced the 2026 Veronia Marathon road-event permit; staff said the event would take place April 12 with roughly 600 participants, 150 volunteers and 15 support vehicles, running from Camp Cedar Ridge to Highway 47 and using the Veronia path and local county roads. Staff reported no concerns from Columbia 9-1-1, ODOT, St. Helens Public Works or local police and recommended issuing the permit and placing the indemnity agreement on file. A motion to approve the permit passed with recorded 'Aye' votes.

Why it matters: Approval enables a large annual public event and clears several administrative items the county must ratify to keep county operations and interagency agreements current. Board members discussed whether routine recurring event permits could be handled administratively to streamline agendas; staff explained permitting timelines and interagency review requirements.

Next steps: Staff to issue the permit as authorized and continue to process agreements on file; commissioners may refine administrative handling of routine permit items in future agenda planning.