News

• Clark County Council

In light of the ongoing pandemic, the Clark County Council this week decided to keep its public meetings in a virtual format through the end of September at which time councilors will re-evaluate and consider whether to open meetings to in-person attendance.

The council made the following cancellations to its meeting schedule for the next couple of weeks:


• Public Health

Clark County Public Health has issued a danger advisory for Vancouver Lake after test results revealed elevated levels of cyanotoxins in the water.

Results from water samples taken from Vancouver Lake on Monday revealed cyanotoxins above the threshold levels recommended by the Washington Department of Health. Danger signs are being posted at the public access points to the lake.


• Community Planning

The Clark County Historic Preservation Commission invites the public to hear a presentation on the findings of the mid-century modern architectural survey project. The project was to research and identify the county’s mid-century architectural resources.

The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. during the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission virtual meeting.


• Community Planning

The Housing Options Study and Action Plan project’s purpose is to identify housing challenges within the unincorporated Vancouver Urban Growth Area and opportunities to encourage development of housing that is affordable to a variety of household incomes through the removal of regulatory barriers and/or implementation of other strategies.

The group’s seventh meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24 via Zoom. The meeting is open to the public and will be recorded.


• Community Services

Clark County has implemented and currently operates eviction prevention rent assistance programs, to assist low-income people impacted by the pandemic. These programs have provided an unprecedented $21.4 in financial assistance since August 2020 and are currently serving more than 100 additional households per week by providing an average of more than $800,000 per week in financial assistance.


• Public Health

COVID-19 virus activity continues to increase rapidly in Clark County, with the rate more than doubling in two weeks. Public Health is urging everyone to get vaccinated and wear face coverings indoors to help slow the spread of the virus.

An additional 964 cases have been reported to Public Health in the last week, for an average of 138 cases per day. One month ago, Clark County was averaging about 21 cases per day. The virus activity rate increased this week to 191 cases per 100,000 people over 14 days – that’s nearly four times the rate three weeks ago.


• Community Development

Reward fund of $10,000 available for information that leads to a conviction

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person and vehicle of interest in an ongoing fire investigation.

The Fire Marshal’s office is asking the public to review the videos below to see if they recognize the person or vehicle. The video was taken at approximately 2 a.m. July 5 near the Old Cherry Grove Church in Battle Ground. The former church and nearby home were completely destroyed in a fire.


• Community Planning

The Commission on Aging will hear about the intersection of COVID-19, older adults, and social determinants of health. The meeting will include guest experts and a discussion about what our community can do better to address health inequities in the places where we live, learn, work, and play. The discussion will address social determinants of health relevant to older adults and what can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to address health disparities in our community.


• Auditor

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey is warning Clark County residents about a letter dated Aug. 4 from the Washington State Department of Licensing incorrectly notifying vehicle owners that their personalized plates will be canceled. 

Thousands of vehicle owners across the state are receiving these letters that concern personalized plates that had been transferred to another vehicle.

Vehicle owners should ignore this letter if it is dated Aug. 4, 2021.


• Public Health

Vancouver, Wash. – Another stretch of hot weather is expected in Clark County this week. Public Health is urging residents to take steps to prevent heat-related illness and to check on people who may be at increased risk.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the region from Wednesday through Saturday. Temperatures are forecast to reach or exceed 100 degrees on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and expected remain in the upper 90s on Saturday. Overnight low temperatures are expected to be in the upper 60s.