Commissioners weigh $4.11M in rural‑facility requests against $1.56M available; pass hiring freeze to save general‑fund dollars

Cowlitz County commissioners on Tuesday reviewed a two‑week slate of ten rural development applicants whose combined requests total roughly $4.11 million while approximately $1.56 million in county funding is available for FY2026.

Staff recapped the applicants and the board questioned cost, readiness and local match for each proposal. Notable applicants included Fire District No. 5, which requested an additional $100,000 to convert a training/shop site to three‑phase power so a new standby generator and breathing‑air center can operate there; the district emphasized continuity of operations and estimated construction jobs and long‑term public‑safety benefits. "We're asking for $100,000 additional" to upgrade the PUD transformer and wiring, the district chief said.

The Kallet County Event Center requested roughly $31,930 to replace two inoperable arena rollup doors, citing safety and substantial facility usage; the facility reported 191 days of use in 2025. The city of Castle Rock requested about $365,500 to install an 800‑foot 6‑inch sewer force main to bypass a residential bottleneck near I‑5 (exit 49), relieve backups affecting about 100 homes and enable nearby 12‑acre development. Longview Parks requested lighting for a softball field (vendor plan from Musco) to add evening hours and help attract tournaments; project costs were discussed during Q&A. The Longview Public Library requested funds to replace worn carpet in the 33,000 sq. ft. library building; the library foundation committed $5,000 and the city would provide labor.

County staff noted limited available funds and asked commissioners for direction on prioritization. The board asked staff to return with funding scenarios (including reduced awards) and possible uses of reserve or matching funds.

Budget action: commissioners discussed and then voted to implement a 2026 countywide hiring freeze to reduce general‑fund expenditures and provide flexibility for funding priorities. Staff estimated the freeze, applied to currently unfilled general‑fund positions not already targeted for elimination, could save approximately $1.48 million in 2026. Commissioners agreed the freeze could be waived for critical positions if the board approves a specific request.

What happens next: staff will compile funding‑scenario recommendations for the rural applicants, prioritize applications in consultation with the board and return with a proposed awards list. The hiring freeze is in effect pending administrative instructions; departments may bring urgent staffing requests to the board for exception approval.