Cowlitz County approves consent agenda, schedules public hearings and hears call to revisit coal export plan
June 10, 2026 | Cowlitz County, Washington
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Cowlitz County commissioners approved a packed consent agenda that included calls for public hearings, contract adjustments, appointments and administrative correspondence, and they heard public comment urging renewed consideration of coal export opportunities at the Reynolds site.
Clerk/administration staff announced public hearings set for: July 7 to consider updates to the Three Rivers Regional Wastewater Authority discharge and industrial pre‑treatment policy; July 7 for the Burma Road Toutel Park bypass project; July 14 for a 10‑year non‑exclusive franchise for Carol's Water Association; and July 14 for the Allander Road/Still Water Creek culvert replacement project (which includes steps toward temporary and permanent easements). The clerk also called a July 21 public meeting to declare surplus vehicles and equipment for disposal and solicited bids for the Burma Road Toutel Park bypass (the engineer’s estimate discussed was about $1.5 million).
Staff described several contract adjustments included in consent: a $24,000 increase to a guardrail contract with Columbia River Contractors, Inc. (new total reported as $526,316); a $12,000 supplemental agreement with WSPUSA for South Cloverdale Road design (new total $538,360); and rejected bids for a landfill flare replacement due to irregularities in bidders’ payment schedules. The board appointed Mike Maloney to the fair board and Adam Smei to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee; staff also reported Federal Energy Regulatory Commission notices and other correspondence. The vouchers amount reported in the transcript was unclear.
During public comment, a resident proposed revisiting earlier plans to handle and export coal from the Reynolds site so the county could capture economic benefits from coal shipments that currently pass through the area. Commissioners said they would research the idea and discuss it with jurisdictions and agencies at upcoming meetings. Staff also noted upcoming meetings including a Department of Ecology session June 23 and a Board of Health meeting June 30.
A motion to approve the consent agenda passed by voice vote; the transcript records the result but does not list individual recorded votes.
Clerk/administration staff announced public hearings set for: July 7 to consider updates to the Three Rivers Regional Wastewater Authority discharge and industrial pre‑treatment policy; July 7 for the Burma Road Toutel Park bypass project; July 14 for a 10‑year non‑exclusive franchise for Carol's Water Association; and July 14 for the Allander Road/Still Water Creek culvert replacement project (which includes steps toward temporary and permanent easements). The clerk also called a July 21 public meeting to declare surplus vehicles and equipment for disposal and solicited bids for the Burma Road Toutel Park bypass (the engineer’s estimate discussed was about $1.5 million).
Staff described several contract adjustments included in consent: a $24,000 increase to a guardrail contract with Columbia River Contractors, Inc. (new total reported as $526,316); a $12,000 supplemental agreement with WSPUSA for South Cloverdale Road design (new total $538,360); and rejected bids for a landfill flare replacement due to irregularities in bidders’ payment schedules. The board appointed Mike Maloney to the fair board and Adam Smei to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee; staff also reported Federal Energy Regulatory Commission notices and other correspondence. The vouchers amount reported in the transcript was unclear.
During public comment, a resident proposed revisiting earlier plans to handle and export coal from the Reynolds site so the county could capture economic benefits from coal shipments that currently pass through the area. Commissioners said they would research the idea and discuss it with jurisdictions and agencies at upcoming meetings. Staff also noted upcoming meetings including a Department of Ecology session June 23 and a Board of Health meeting June 30.
A motion to approve the consent agenda passed by voice vote; the transcript records the result but does not list individual recorded votes.
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