Cowlitz County approves several contracts and amendments, including guard-services and engineering testing increases

At its meeting the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners approved multiple consent and motion items covering public works, public safety and public-health services.

Under the consent agenda the board recorded a one-year addendum to the sheriff's contract with Northwest Enforcement covering guard supervisors ($530,096) and a contractor-owned vehicle ($19,004.58) for security services at the jail. County engineering staff requested and the board approved an amendment to Terracon Consultants' personal services agreement to add $150,000 and extend the contract to Dec. 31, 2027, citing the firm's role in special inspection services and the need to support scheduled large construction projects.

Health and Human Services presented a two-year contract with PreventionMD for the county health officer (Dr. Kroeger). Gina James described the role's 24/7 availability and medical oversight responsibilities for certificate issuance, inspections and communicable-disease functions. The two-year contract amount was described as just under $160,000.

Relatedly, the board approved contracts and pass-throughs for behavioral-health services funded by the Washington State Health Care Authority's criminal justice treatment account (CJTA) and contract amendments for coordinated entry providers (Cowlitz Family Health Center, Emergency Support Shelter, Community House on Broadway) to add six months and align terms with state fiscal-year funding.

Each item was moved and approved by voice vote during the meeting. The board also noted receipt of FERC notices about Station 69 Swift Project #2 repairs and certified special-district levies in the consent materials.