[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6081506,"mediaKeyId","2942151-1becb5d70a2ac29e768fbe20c5bbd64c","parentId",2942151,"title","Cowlitz County commissioners oppose expanding noncitizen law‑enforcement hires; sheriff says state law already allows permanent residents","audioSeconds",1971,"startMs",758000,"endMs",2729000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942151-1becb5d70a2ac29e768fbe20c5bbd64c&start=758&end=2729","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942151-1becb5d70a2ac29e768fbe20c5bbd64c/thumbnail_758000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081506/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-commissioners-oppose-expanding-noncitizen-lawenforcement-hires-sheriff-says-state-law-already-allows-permanent-residents","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081506-02afc3689395aebf24e17a3e78ee8e42/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025657&Signature=WurwN~P3lI7ScVNsINNZJSeKGnS3WhA68Ixauf02wkc5b2SONJ03KJI7II3XTurg1jiPtaY-dgfuy7GRh6hyJJzRfR6pseabt6x97Hckygz4vp3z883fOZsWYzRemYpD~WR5N4cxzxfNrLjaTaulYPQdho-xzSrVM1G~xzQbxesQ3T92AOVoJ4pzbvDBpkGiXMmwa1s9sbC~-EU825us1McWcA1TPBogJ0mxJ3XK-RyzZEb0IT9qrtN69U9Qs381d5fBNEz5gLIgNxytg5ygpxsSXh3w4ZLov926SRIvLK6tRDGI1nHMv7qi5otwtk68lruu~taCSnyuawNW04a2XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-04-10T10:13:28.927Z","article","Cowlitz County commissioners on Tuesday debated a recently advanced state bill that would allow certain noncitizens to serve in law enforcement, with several commissioners urging local opposition and exploring whether a local resolution or code change could bar such hires.

“ I don't like it, and I don't I don't think there's pressure in our county to do it,” the chairman said during a wide-ranging discussion about the bill’s implications for public safety and local control. Commissioners repeatedly said the measure does not address underlying recruiting or retention problems for police and jail staff, and several urged the county to consider a formal local stance.

Multiple speakers raised practical and constitutional concerns, including whether noncitizen officers would be allowed to carry firearms and how they would be vetted. One attendee asked whether legal noncitizens who serve in the military would be treated differently; the chairman replied that federal military rules are outside the county’s control.

Cowlitz County Sheriff Bridal responded with a procedural clarification: the state law allowing noncitizens to be employed in law enforcement first went into effect in 2018 for permanent resident aliens, he said, and last session’s language had added references to DACA (deferred action for childhood arrivals). “That’s something that’s been in place since 2018,” the sheriff said, adding that the recent bills clarify classification language rather than create an entirely new authority.

Bridal described local safeguards and practice: agencies are not required to hire noncitizens or to pay for international background checks if finances make that impractical, and the county’s civil service commission sets hiring standards. He also said permanent resident aliens can obtain a concealed‑pistol license under Washington law and that, in his view, Cowlitz County does not currently face staffing pressures likely to cause the sheriff’s office to hire noncitizen applicants.

Commissioners and speakers discussed possible next steps. One commissioner proposed exploring a county code change to make a local prohibition explicit; another suggested a resolution as an initial step. Several speakers also raised separate but related issues: courtroom practices, judicial accountability and broader concerns about state and federal policy.

No formal motion to adopt a county policy or ordinance on the subject was made during the meeting. The board concluded the discussion by asking staff and legal counsel to investigate the options for a local response — including whether a resolution or code amendment would be feasible — and to report back to the commissioners.

Ending

Sheriff Bridal said he did not foresee an immediate need for the county to hire noncitizen officers; commissioners asked staff to research potential local actions and the legal pathway for a resolution or code change.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday Regular Public Meeting - 4/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners voiced opposition to a state bill to permit noncitizens to serve as law‑enforcement officers and discussed options including a local resolution or code change; the sheriff told the board the basic authority for hiring permanent residents has been on the books since 2018 and outlined local hiring controls.","taxTitle","Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",5122,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081510,"Cowlitz County approves bids schedule, closes out International Way emergency sewer repair",418,183000,601000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942151-1becb5d70a2ac29e768fbe20c5bbd64c&start=183&end=601","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942151-1becb5d70a2ac29e768fbe20c5bbd64c/thumbnail_183000.jpg","/articles/6081510/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-approves-bids-schedule-closes-out-International-Way-emergency-sewer-repair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081510-31a4e81fd1f9d48160a1ae7898fda7a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025657&Signature=VzVsDyWoqWqCifrJ8fHJKMUOdvkQ7mSUNbWf7y9lQnfylQIC7RQM0agwYkhIpMDm6MUdzcbK-t~FeG7POkc6NyDdiSci5vYAE81D2qs9H1mJpsb71wHw4DetHIxiF1t-WFCrhJbCfo3g-iwQs4GUKpeSFzGUSxgXNC3Krq-tmIWpdMhkaG0SPH~SIqfyDhHFeq7189VBRS8O2lftdpjZ0wPugh5ebo-qi5VpW-gC5xKsmeDMXrtwJcy-fVYyaFjX-BLzRba66tRPxaCJIrPRLYeiwgYLBW3HQ~jBO7lzIMmgTr3Je3YSN375HlanMaVZLiiU8qYmCPQG04oyhY5HtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a call for bids for road surfacing supplies and moved forward on the long‑planned South Cloverdale Road improvements, and rescinded an emergency declaration after the International Way sewer emergency repair was completed for about $52,600.

County Engineer Susan Eugenas told the board the county issued a call for bids for road surfacing materials covering May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, with the bid opening set for April 28, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. Eugenas said the county accepts “all responsible bidders” and generally awards work to firms that are geographically closest to a given job.

The board also approved putting the South Cloverdale Road improvement project out for bids. Eugenas said the county estimates the project at about $9,900,000, “just under $10,000,000,” and that roughly $3.6 million of that estimate comes from out‑of‑county funds. She said staff have spent significant time securing easements and other preconstruction tasks.

Eugenas presented item 6, a resolution to rescind the emergency order related to an emergency repair on the International Way gravity sewer line. She reported the final cost for the emergency repair at $52,600.68, “which was well below our initial estimate,” and asked the board to rescind the earlier emergency declaration so staff could finish closeout work.

The board moved and voted to rescind the emergency declaration (resolution number 25‑004 as read into the record). Commissioners also voted to approve the meeting minutes and the consent agenda, which included the call for bids, the county’s annual County Road Administration Board (CRAB) certification and a contract completion letter for Advanced Excavating Specialists for the International Way repair.

Other consent items noted by staff included letters of appointment and reappointment to several advisory councils and an item supporting federal building repairs at the Mount St. Helens Institute. Voucher payments of $349,613.41 for the week were also presented.

Staff said design work is planned this summer for a road to the visitor welcome center affected by washouts; reopening of that route is not expected before 2026. The board also reminded the public of a public works meeting and a Housing Opportunities assessment workshop scheduled the following day.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve minutes of March 31 and April 2: approved (voice vote recorded as “Aye”).
- Motion to approve the consent agenda (including CRAB certification and contract completion letter): approved (voice vote recorded as “Aye”).
- Motion to rescind the emergency declaration for the International Way sewer repair (resolution read on the record): approved (voice vote recorded as “Aye”).

Ending

Staff will proceed with bid advertising for surfacing materials and the South Cloverdale Road project and complete contract closeout on the International Way sewer repair after the rescission is processed.","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners set a call for bids for road surfacing and South Cloverdale Road work, and voted to rescind an emergency order after an international-way sewer emergency repair came in far below estimate.","actionData","errors"]

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Cowlitz County commissioners oppose expanding noncitizen law‑enforcement hires; sheriff says state law already allows permanent residents

Cowlitz County approves bids schedule, closes out International Way emergency sewer repair