Beginning at 10 am Wednesday, March 13, elections officials will perform a hand count of approximately 600 ballots randomly selected as part of a manual comparison against machine results. 

For this comparison, approximately 300 from each political party will be counted by hand, to check the accuracy of the ballot tabulation equipment. The selected ballots will be counted in the total returns on Election Day. 

If a voter has not received their ballot, they should contact the Elections Office at (564) 397-2345 or elections@clark.wa.gov.

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

Applicants with railroad management, regulations, operations, or other railroad-related experience desired. Also desirable is experience in economic development, land use issues, transloading or other business experience using freight-rail service, transportation logistics, and work with municipalities and rail impacted areas. 

The Clark County Assessor’s office property tax exemption specialists will be available to answer questions and enroll property owners in the county’s property tax relief program at an upcoming Meals on Wheels luncheon in La Center.

The Tax Exemption Program for senior citizens and people with disabilities can reduce property tax liability for qualifying homeowners. Eligibility is based on age or disability, home ownership, residency, and income. Participants are not required to repay the taxes, and their homes are not subject to property liens. 

The Clark County Climate Project Environmental Justice Coalition will meet at 3:30 pm on Monday, March 4. 

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office is taking lottery applications for four retail firework permits to be assigned by lottery.

Fireworks cannot be sold in Clark County without a permit.

Applications for the permit lottery can be obtained on the county website at https://clark.wa.gov/community-development/fireworks. Only one completed application may be entered per person or organization.

Clark County and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe are starting a fish habitat and recreation master planning process for the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area. The property was formerly part of the Cedars on Salmon Creek golf course. The planning effort will focus on restoring fish habitat in Salmon Creek, removing fish passage barriers, and improving natural-resource based opportunities like walking, birdwatching, fishing, picnicking and cultural and environmental education. 

Every election, the Clark County Auditor’s Office provides an online and printed voters’ guide with information about candidates and ballot measures for voters to make an informed decision when voting. The April voters’ guide includes local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizens.

For the safety of park visitors, the Parks and Lands division of Clark County Public Works has closed sections of trail in Lacamas Regional Park, near Round Lake. The footbridge located on the trail to the lower falls has sustained significant structural damage and will need to be removed and replaced. This process will take one to two years to complete, including environmental permitting. Fencing will be installed around the closed area and signage will alert visitors to the closure. Currently temporary signs, barricades and caution tape mark the closed area.

At 10:00 am on Thursday Feb. 29, the Clark County Elections Office will conduct logic and accuracy tests of the programming of the accessible voting units and the programming that is used to tabulate ballots for the March 12 Presidential Primary.

The tests will be held at the Elections Office, 1408 Franklin St. These tests are required under Washington state law before every election. Members of the news media, candidates and the public are invited to attend these tests.

Ballots for this election will be mailed on Friday, Feb. 23.   

Clark County Public Health is joining Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries for a free educational series highlighting environmentally friendly lifestyles.

Public Health’s Green Neighbors, Green Schools and Composter Recycler programs, along with several other community organizations, will be offering workshops as part of the Conscious Consumption series at the Cascade Park Community Library. The series features workshops and events for residents of all ages to learn about sustainability topics, including food waste reduction, worm bin composting, and sustainable fashion.