Work at Lacamas Regional Park will impact visitor parking, access

Work at Lacamas Regional Park will impact visitor parking, access

The former caretaker residence at Lacamas Regional Park will be demolished May 15-19. The parking lot off Northeast Everett Street will be closed during the demolition. The overflow parking lot off Northeast 35th Avenue will be improved to prepare for the project.

Between May 8 and May 12, the overflow parking lot off Northeast 35th Avenue will be closed for regrading. The work is expected to be complete by Friday, May 12, but is dependent on weather.

Both parking lots will be open Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14.

From May 15 to May 19, the parking lot off Northeast Everett Street will be closed. The lot will be part of the active work site for the demolition of the former caretaker residence. The park’s restrooms, picnic shelter, playground and trails will remain open. Visitors must park in and access the park from the Northeast 35th Avenue overflow parking lot. The work is expected to be complete by Friday, May 19, but is dependent on weather.

Visitors are reminded to avoid work zones and never enter areas that are closed with cones, signs or caution tape.

Residents can check the status of the projects and closures at clark.wa.gov/public-works. For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input and more, follow Public Works on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor.

Camas to host kindergarten information night May 16

Camas parents and caregivers of students starting kindergarten in the fall are invited to come and learn about their neighborhood schools on Tuesday, May 16.

Each elementary school will host a parent information night from 6 to 7 p.m. May 16.

The Camas School District also will offer its free Smart Start transitional kindergarten program at Grass Valley Elementary during the 2023-24 school year. This program serves students who:

• Will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2024;

• Have not attended preschool or other early-learning program; and

• Live within the boundaries of the Grass Valley Elementary or Helen Baller Elementary schools.

Applications for the Smart Start program will be accepted May 15-24 through an online form at camas.wednet.edu/learning/smart-start/.

County opens grant applications process for small businesses, nonprofits

Clark County has grant funding opportunities for small businesses, nonprofits and community-serving organizations. The $3 million in grants are part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Grants Program (SLFRF) that supports recovery from negative economic impact brought on by COVID-19.

Eligible applicants include small businesses, nonprofit organizations, impacted/hardest hit communities, industries, sectors, and community-serving organizations in Clark County that experienced negative economic impacts as a result of COVID-19.

The program will prioritize funding requests from eligible applicants that have not previously had access to or received COVID-19 recovery assistance funds from federal recovery programs including, but not limited to SLFRF; Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act; Coronavirus Relief Fund; and ARPA funds.

The grant application period is open now, and closes at 4 p.m., Friday, May 19. Successful applicants will be notified by July 19, 2023, and distribution of funds is expected to begin on Sept. 15.

Learn more about ARPA programs on the county website at clark.wa.gov/covid19/arpa-community-grant-program.

Camas wastewater treatment staff honored

The city of Camas has once again been recognized for its outstanding work in the area of wastewater. The Camas wastewater treatment plant recently received the Washington State Department of Ecology 2022 “Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance” award. Out of the 300 wastewater treatment plants across the state, Camas ranks among the top 109 selected as top performers.

The Department of Ecology provides the awards each year using a specific set of criteria to evaluate specific domestic wastewater treatment plants for compliance with their permit. Camas was considered a top performer for regularly meeting numeric effluent limits per criteria, for conducting monitoring and for reporting data as required.

Camas Public Works Director Steve Wall said the 2022 award is an amazing accomplishment considering the City’s wastewater team has been short-staffed all year.

“While we’re always happy to be recognized, this year’s award is really special considering the circumstances,” said Wall. “Even though we’ve experienced significant staffing issues in the wastewater division over the last year, the team on hand really stepped up and delivered for this community.”

This marks the second consecutive year the city’s wastewater treatment plant has received the coveted award.