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Cowlitz County staff seek approval to surplus three vacant lots and study consolidating county buildings
Summary
County staff asked commissioners for direction to surplus three vacant lots (estimated combined value about $300,000), to research several other parcels, and to pursue further study into consolidating the Health Department into the annex building to free a commercially valuable property for sale.
Cowlitz County staff told commissioners they want direction to begin surplus-and-sale procedures for three vacant county lots and to study options for consolidating some county offices, including the Health Department, into the annex building.
Mike Moss, Public Services Director, said the county’s contracted real-estate agent recommended selling three contiguous vacant lots together and that listing them together could yield approximately $300,000. Moss said the properties have no planned county use and could be returned to the tax rolls.
Shawn, a facilities staff member who led the facilities review, told the board that two additional vacant lots near Greystone Road and a 13-acre parcel on Ocean Beach Highway will require further valuation and field review before the county should move forward. He said the Greystone parcels may be combined or boundary-adjusted to create buildable lots and that the Ocean Beach Highway parcel’s hilly topography reduces its marketability.
On leased properties known as the Janice House, Shawn said current five-year leases and convenience clauses mean those houses will not be included in any immediate surplus action; staff listed potential market values of about $250,000–$300,000 per house but said leases and programmatic uses require board consideration before sale.
On consolidation, staff recommended studying whether the Health Department (estimated staff count between about 14 and 24 people) could move into the annex building, freeing a commercial building downtown that a realtor estimated could list for $1.2 million to $1.6 million. "If we were to look at consolidating the Health Department, it is the low-hanging fruit as far as ancillary buildings go," Shawn said. Staff recommended returning with detailed staff counts, parking analysis and cost estimates before any formal sale or relocation.
Commissioners supported pursuing further research and asked staff to return with more information. One commissioner cautioned that surplus sales follow a public process and that leases and programmatic needs (for example, drug court or Janice House services) need careful consideration.
The board gave direction to staff to begin the surplus process for the three vacant lots and to perform deeper feasibility work on building consolidation, parking and the Ocean Beach Highway parcel. Staff said they would return with valuation and public-hearing steps.
Ending: Staff will return with formal valuations, lease reviews and a public-surplus timeline; no final sales or relocations were approved at the meeting.
