Cowlitz County Public Works on Wednesday presented its road operations organization, a multi‑year spending plan and equipment requests intended to support an active chip‑seal and overlay program.

The presentation, led by Public Services Director Mike Moss and County Engineer Susan (county engineer), said the department begins 2026 with a larger-than-usual beginning fund balance and intends to reduce it by advancing major projects such as South Cloverdale and Dike Road while maintaining routine programs including chip seal, ditching, brushing and culvert work. "$7,000,000 really gives us the ability to make it to April, being our first infusion of monies," a county official said when describing the fund cushion the county aims to hold for winter storms.

Why it matters: The county said keeping a multi‑million-dollar balance provides cash flow for winter response and for the matching dollars required to draw down state and federal grants. Officials noted some major local matches — notably Dike Road — will determine how far the fund is spent down next year.

Most important facts: The department reported an estimated beginning fund balance of about $16.3 million and projected 2026 revenues of roughly $16.65 million from property and other local taxes; grants of about $11.93 million; state allocations of $2.61 million; and interest and miscellaneous receipts. Capital projects for 2026 were shown just shy of $17 million in the slides. If the Dike Road local match is included, staff warned the fund balance could drop less than staff’s preferred target; with the planned projects completed the department estimates a year‑end balance near $9.4 million (about $8.4 million in free cash plus $1 million pre‑awarded FEMA funds).

The road program highlighted chip sealing of roughly 63 miles in the current year, the overlay of about 19,000 tons of asphalt, and routine maintenance on approximately 3,800 miles of roads. Officials said chip seal materials account for roughly $1.9 million of anticipated supplies, with another $3 million allocated to an annual overlay program.

Equipment and ER&R: Staff sought funding for routine equipment replacements through the county’s ER&R (Equipment, Repair & Replacement) fund. The presentation noted ER&R has about $4.6 million available and listed three replacement requests for ER&R funding: a 3/4‑ton pickup outfitted with a signboard, a 1‑ton flatbed sign truck and a water truck whose controls are at end of life. The presentation emphasized the county’s desire to keep equipment within brands that local maintenance personnel and vendors can service quickly.

Operational detail: Susan explained that in urban areas with curb and gutter the county sometimes grinds pavement prior to overlay to avoid steep cross slopes at driveways; rural chip seal work can often be an overlay without deep grinding. Staff described a planning approach that moves some projects between years when bids or matches change.

Next steps: The department will advance the identified capital projects and bring specific projects to bid; commissioners asked for continued monitoring of the fund balance and prioritization of projects that will spend down local matches.

Ending: Road operations staff said they will continue to schedule winter operations and emergency response planning ahead of the cold season and return with project‑level approvals as bids and matches become firm.