Vancouver, WA  ̶  The Clark County Sheriff’s Office would have long-term, stable funding to hire deputies under a proposal the Board of County Councilors will consider as a spring supplemental budget adjustment.

Councilor Julie Olson introduced the idea of allowing Sheriff Chuck Atkins to hire three deputies above his office’s authorized positions in order to maintain full staffing.

“It provides a long-term commitment to public safety and removes hiring deputies from competition with other General Fund needs, said Olson.

Vancouver, WA ‒ Clark County Public Health has lifted an advisory warning people and their pets to avoid contact with water in Lacamas Lake and Dwyer Creek. Sampling by the city of Camas indicates the water no longer poses a threat to the health of people and animals.

But health officials have left in place a no-contact advisory for about a mile-long stretch of Lacamas Creek between Dwyer Creek and Lacamas Lake. Sampling there still shows high levels of bacteria.

Aging specialist to talk about choosing the right house, technology, design

Vancouver, WA – Aging-in-place ‒ living in the home and community of your choice as you get older ‒ will be the topic of the March 15 Commission on Aging meeting in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

The Tuesday meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Vancouver, WA – Clark County’s Green Business program will host its fifth annual Green Business Showcase from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at Fort Vancouver’s historic Artillery Barracks, 600 Hathaway Road.

The 2016 showcase will include a panel discussion by LSW Architects on “Green by Design” and presentation of the first annual Green Business of the Year Award. Appetizers will be served and music will be provided by Tony Smiley, a Vancouver electro-acoustic musician.

Vancouver, WA — Clark County Public Health is advising that people and pets should avoid water contact in and around Lacamas Lake. A spill occurred near 4700 NW Pacific Rim Blvd. in Camas and the leak was repaired early this afternoon.

People and their pets should avoid water contact from the area of the spill and the path of the water downstream. This includes Dwyer Creek, Lacamas Creek, and Lacamas Lake. Public Health staff have posted warning signs in affected areas.

Property owners to receive additional notice about Brush Prairie proposal

Vancouver, WA – A public hearing has been postponed until 6 p.m. Tuesday April 5 for the Board of County Councilors to consider a proposal for a rural industrial land bank near Brush Prairie.

The hearing will be in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. It was previously scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday March 1.

Project manager Gordy Euler said the change was necessary to ensure adequate notice to property owners nearby.

Vancouver, WA – The Board of County Councilors is seeking applicants to fill two positions on the Clark County Board of Equalization. One is a regular position and one is for an alternate.

Terms for both begin July 15, 2016 and end July 14, 2019.

The Board of Equalization provides an impartial citizen forum in which property owners can resolve issues related assessed property valuation and tax exemptions. Members are paid $75 per day while attending meetings which are usually held during alternating weeks, Tuesday through Thursday mornings.

Vancouver, WA – Clark County Environmental Services is reestablishing its stream monitoring program at approximately 50 sites in the county’s 10 watersheds. The monitoring will allow the county to gauge the health of many local streams and rivers.

Monitoring will begin this year and focus on selected streams each year for five years. At the end of the five year monitoring period, Environmental Services will generate a report outlining the overall health of Clark County’s streams and rivers. Sites will be among these watersheds:

Vancouver, WA – Clark County’s Environmental Services Clean Water Division is seeking public comments on the annual update to its Stormwater Management Plan at next week’s Clean Water Commission meeting.

The meeting is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in the sixth-floor Training Room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

“Public comments during these updates ensure we are addressing community needs and concerns,” said Don Benton, Environmental Services director. “Public comments help guide the plan for the coming the year.”

Vancouver, WA  ̶  Paintings by Clark County artist Robert Bickel are on display in the Sixth Floor Gallery of the Public Service Center and open for public viewing during the March 4 First Friday Walk.

A reception for Bickel will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 4 in the gallery on the sixth floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. The exhibit, entitled Wave and Time Studies, also can be seen through March 31 during regular 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. business hours.