News

• Clark County Council

Councilor Dill Bowerman elected council chair, Councilor Medvigy to serve as vice chair

Clark County Councilor Eileen Quiring O’Brien today announced her retirement from the county. Her last day will be March 1, 2022. Councilor O’Brien also stepped down from her position as chair of the council effective immediately.

The council elected Councilor Karen Dill Bowerman, District 3 to serve as chair and Councilor Gary Medvigy, District 4 to serve as vice chair. Both positions take effect immediately and end Dec. 31, 2022.


• Elections

Beginning at 9 am Wednesday, Feb. 9, elections officials will perform a hand count of approximately 600 ballots randomly selected as part of a manual comparison against machine results.

The selected ballots will be counted in the total returns on Election Day. But for this comparison, the City of Vancouver ballot measure will be counted by hand, to check the accuracy of the ballot tabulation equipment.


• Community Services

Clark County has implemented and currently operates eviction prevention rent assistance programs to assist people who are low-income impacted by the pandemic. These programs have provided an unprecedented $39 million in financial assistance to 4,844 households, paying for 42,568 months of rent and utilities since August 2020. Approximately $885,000 in financial assistance for rent and utilities is going out to 100 additional households each week.


• Community Planning

The Clark County Council this week appointed Yacolt resident Eldon Wogen to the county’s volunteer Planning Commission. His four-year appointment begins immediately and ends Dec. 31, 2025.

Wogen retired in 2020 and spent his professional career as a project manager. He has extensive volunteer experience including serving on the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Wogen also was a member of the Battle Ground Youth Soccer Club board for several years.


• Public Works

Clark County is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the seven-member Parks Advisory Board for term that begins April 1, 2022.

Board members serve three-year terms. Upon expiration of a term, a member can apply again. There is no limit on how many terms a member can serve.


• Community Planning

The Buildable Lands Report is Clark County’s evaluation of the adequacy of the remaining suitable residential, commercial and industrial land supply within urban growth areas to accommodate projected growth at observed development densities. Clark County’s next Buildable Lands Report is due to Washington State Department of Commerce by June 30, 2022, three years prior to the next Comprehensive Plan periodic update due by June 30, 2025. 


• Community Services

Clark County has implemented and currently operates eviction prevention rent assistance programs to assist people who are low-income impacted by the pandemic. These programs have provided an unprecedented $39 million in financial assistance to 4,744 households, paying for 41,613 months of rent and utilities since August 2020. Approximately $885,000 in financial assistance for rent and utilities is going out to 100 additional households each week.


• Public Works

Neighbors and community members are invited to learn about design activities associated with the reconstruction of the intersections of Northeast 29th Avenue and Northeast 50th Avenue with Northeast 179th Street, at an upcoming open house. This area is anticipated to experience significant growth over the next 20 years. Upgrades to the intersections will accommodate future traffic volumes while maintaining safety and mobility.


• Public Works

The Clark County Council is seeking applicants to fill up to six seats on a fifteen-person board that advises the county on matters related to the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad.

Board members serve three-year terms. All open terms begin immediately.


• Public Works

Neighbors and community members are invited to learn about the Heritage Farm Wetland Restoration project. This project will restore five acres of wetlands and establish two acres of riparian buffer along a channelized section of Cougar Creek’s headwaters on Clark County’s 78th Street Heritage Farm property. The project will also include creating about one acre of wetland, replace a storm sewer pipe under access roads, and resurface the farm’s gravel driveways.