As colorful leaves begin to fall from trees, Clark County Public Health is encouraging residents to properly dispose of leaves to keep them out of streets and the landfill.

Leaves should not be raked or blown into streets. Fallen leaves can clog storm drains and create areas of standing water on roadways, making roads unsafe for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Instead, Public Health encourages residents to take advantage of local disposal options that use leaves to create compost.

Applications for Clark County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds will be available beginning Monday, Oct. 2. In 2024, Clark County expects to award approximately $3,000,000 to community development and housing activities.

Applications will be completed and submitted through Neighborly Software. Applicants are encouraged to participate in a pre-application workshop to review application questions and program requirements:

Clark County Public Health’s Composter Recycler program is offering a series of free online and in-person workshops aimed at teaching participants how to reduce their impact on the planet.

The Composter Recyclers will host eight workshops – each focused on a specific topic, from backyard composting to green living – and two in-person field training events where participants can construct compost piles and view demonstration compost bins. All workshops are provided at no cost.

Here are the online and in-person workshops offered this fall:

The Clark County Board of Health is seeking applicants for two open positions on the volunteer Public Health Advisory Council.

One opening is for the position held by a dentist practicing in Clark County. The three-year term begins as soon as it’s filled and ends Sept. 30, 2026.

The second opening is for the position held by a medical doctor practicing in Clark County. The selected applicant will fill the remainder of a three-year term that begins Nov. 1, 2023 and ends Sept. 30, 2025.

The Clark County Law Library this week announced the addition of a new sealed name change kit to its array of self-help kits.

“This kit is to ask the court to change a name under seal so that other people don’t have access to the court file,” said Law Librarian Maria Sosnowski. “This is for specific situations included in the law, for example domestic violence, harassment, gender expression, emancipated minors, or refugees.”

The county manager is seeking applicants to fill several positions on the volunteer Community Action Advisory Board.

Positions include elected officials from the county’s second and third councilor districts, low-income representatives from the county’s first, third and fifth councilor districts and a community representative from the county’s fifth councilor district.

Term periods start Jan. 1, 2024, and are three years, ending Dec. 31, 2026. Incumbents have the opportunity for re-appointment to two additional three-year terms.

The Parks and Lands division of Clark County Public Works is beginning a project to improve tree health and address hazardous trees at Pacific Community Park. Arborists have identified trees that need pruning, and a limited number of trees that require removal. Dead limbs and hazardous double trunks will be removed from 58 trees, and five trees will be removed.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Interim Fire Marshal Curtis Eavenson announced today he is lifting the ban on recreational fires in unincorporated Clark County effective at 12:01 am Saturday, Sept. 23 due to cooler temperatures and forecast.

Under the modified ban, burning yard debris and material from land clearing will continue to be prohibited until at least Oct. 1, if not longer, depending on fire conditions.

“Please keep in mind that just because we’ve had cooler temperatures, fires are still possible,” said Eavenson. “Don’t let down your guard.”

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is seeking applicants for two (2) seats on the five-member Clark County Law and Justice Council.  

The Law and Justice Council is established by law to help coordinate activities of the local criminal justice agencies and develop a community corrections plan for local and state corrections services in the county.

Clark County Public Health has lifted its advisory at Lacamas Lake. Water samples collected from the lake show water quality has improved over the last two weeks and toxin levels are no longer elevated.