News

• County Manager

County Manager Kathleen Otto is seeking a volunteer to fill an opening for seat position number one on the county’s Ethics Review Commission.

The opening is to fill an unexpired three-year term which begins immediately and ends Aug. 1, 2026. 

Commission members must be qualified in the area of ethical conduct in government. During their tenure, no member shall hold elected office or be an officer of any political party nor be a county employee.


• Elections

Beginning at 9 am Wednesday, Nov. 5, elections officials will perform an audit of approximately 600 ballots randomly selected as part of a manual comparison against machine results.  

For this comparison, approximately 600 ballots will have a contest counted by hand, to confirm that the ballot tabulation equipment tabulated votes properly. The selected ballots will be counted in the total returns on Election Day.


• Treasurer

Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper will conclude her service on the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) this month after completing the maximum terms allowed by law. Treasurer Topper was appointed to the Commission in July 2017 by Governor Jay Inslee to serve as the elected official representative on the 11-member board.


• Public Works

In 2025, Clark County’s Legacy Lands program celebrates its 40th anniversary. Since 1985, the program has protected, preserved and restored 5,500 acres of natural space. Protecting these valuable natural resources protects air, water and wildlife habitat, and provides recreational opportunities at some of the area’s most scenic locations.


• Public Works

Update, 10/23: This information has been updated to include the deadline for application. 

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

Applicants with railroad or railroad-related experience, or business experience using freight-rail service, are desired. 

Board members serve three-year terms. Terms are anticipated to begin after Jan. 1, 2026. 


• County Manager

Clark County is accepting applications to fill an open position on the Clark County Arts Commission. 

The opening is for an at-large representative living in unincorporated Clark County. The term is for two years and begins immediately.

The Arts Commission is made up of 11 volunteers. Each participating city appoints one member, and the county manager appoints three members representing the arts, arts education and business communities. The commission meets at 5 pm on the first Tuesday of each month.


• Community Services

The Clark County Council will hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the county’s five-year Local Homeless Housing Plan. The hearing is scheduled for 6 pm Tuesday, Nov. 18.


• Public Works

When Halloween celebrations are over, residents can compost their pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns to give them new life. 


• Public Works

Clark County and The Cowlitz Indian Tribe are working to restore habitat and provide nature-based recreational opportunities at the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area in Battle Ground. The property, a former golf course, was purchased in 2022 by the county’s Legacy Lands program. Preliminary planning is underway to improve this public open space by restoring fish habitat in Salmon Creek and improving nature-based recreational opportunities like walking, birdwatching, fishing, picnicking and cultural and environmental education.


• Public Works

As water quality in our lakes, rivers and streams becomes an increasingly visible issue, the community is continuing to come together to collaborate on solutions to protect clean water. To this end, the Clark County Clean Water Commission is hosting the Nonpoint Source Pollution Symposium from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the Clark County Event Center.