The Nov. 5 general election is right around the corner, and a handful of forums will give local residents opportunities to learn more about candidates running for office and a proposition that will be on the ballot.
Under the direction of Mayor Sean Guard, Washougal has slowly been building a stronger foundation that was left cracked and broken more than four years ago by mismanagement and poor leadership. Guard is up for re-election as part of the Nov. 5 General Election, and he should be allowed to continue to build on that growth and be elected to a second term in office.
It was only a year ago that Chris Dierickx and Nick Brown were working in two separate funeral homes in the small community of Camas. Dierickx is a fourth generation funeral director and current owner of Straub's Funeral Home and Columbia River Cremation, while at that time Brown was a third generation funeral director at Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services. "We were both managers of our own family firms," said Brown. "We really had only talked in passing. It wasn't that there was any hostility between the two of us, we just didn't know each other."
During a short and somber meeting on Friday afternoon, the Camas City Council approved a consultant contract in the wake of an announcement early last week that City Administrator Nina Regor had taken immediate medical leave. The contract is with Ridgefield based consultant Paul Lewis. According to Mayor Scott Higgins, as part of the contract Lewis will assist the city with duties that will include bringing the consolidation of the Camas-Washougal fire departments to a conclusion, assisting with union contract negotiations, working on the 2014 budget, and being available to department heads, if needed. "He is a finance mind; that is his strength," Higgins said. "He's worked with a lot of different agencies."
Camas leaders focused on projects, partnerships and prosperity during the presentation of the first "state of the community" address. The Sept. 24 event was a joint venture of the city of Camas, Camas School District, and Port of Camas-Washougal. Speakers focused on the positive, and outlined recent accomplishments and future endeavors. Camas Mayor Scott Higgins highlighted a number of construction projects that have likely been visible to local residents, or soon will be -- the most significant being the 38th Avenue extension. "If you just drive around the geographical area of the city of Camas, you can't help but run into construction project after construction project," he said. "Things are going on in our community."
During a short and somber meeting earlier this afternoon, the Camas City Council approved a consultant contract in the wake of an announcement earlier this week that City Administrator Nina Regor has taken immediate medical leave.
A special meeting has been set for the Camas City Council to consider a consultant services contract. On Friday, at 4:30 p.m., the group will meet to consider the management consulting services agreement. The action is related to the announcement on Tuesday that current City Administrator Nina Regor has taken medical leave.
Camas officials announced today that the city's top administrator is on medical leave. According to a statement from Humane Resources Director Jennifer Gorsuch, Nina Regor, who started work as city administrator in January, is "on medical leave effective immediately for the foreseeable future."
Amid an economy that has been in a recession for several years and is finally beginning to get back on track, now just isn't the right time to ask East County Fire and Rescue voters to approve a capital improvement bond. The $1.275 million, 20-year capital projects proposition would fund two new fire engines, one brush truck, new fire fighting and medical equipment, an emergency generator at Mount Norway Station 94, parking lot repair at Sunnyside Station 93 and a water well at Livingston Mountain Station 92. It is estimated that the bond would cost taxpayers 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. This means the owner of a $300,000 home would pay an additional $27 per year, the owner of a $250,000 home would pay $22.50 per year, and the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $18 per year.
A Washougal teen has been arrested on charges of animal cruelty. Through anonymous tips called into the Washougal Police Department, a 17-year-old boy was identified and arrested on charges of first degree animal cruelty following an incident reported to police last week.
heather.acheson@camaspostrecord.com
