While Ridgefield citizens mainly focused on the use of social media for the community focus article, others expressed their concerns for southwest Washington after the first quarter of 2025.
A bumpy ride of complaints regarding the use of social media instead of in-person interaction and providing a real first and last name in community Facebook groups gave way to numerous answers from north Clark County community members. Answers ranged from the quality of the roads, or the lack thereof, to the amount of trash found along roads, traffic, vandalism and more.
Battle Ground
The Battle Ground community Facebook groups warranted fewer answers than usual, but what stood out from residents were their concerns over taxes and fee increases, what can be parked on one’s own property, and speed limits.
Battle Ground resident Rick Brown stated that the constant local and state tax and fee increases are his big concern.
“People on fixed incomes are not getting the pay increases to keep up with the increases in property taxes, gas taxes, utility fees and overall cost of living,” Brown commented. “I believe that at least property taxes should be removed from elderly retired citizens that have paid their mortgages off. We have paid our share already over our lifetime.”
A pair of citizens expressed concerns about the speed limit on Northeast Grace Avenue/Northeast 142nd Avenue remaining at 50 miles per hour. Alayne Zollinger commented that the speed limit is no longer appropriate for the area and poses a significant risk to the residents and pedestrians of the surrounding, newer neighborhoods along the thoroughfare.
“Just this past week a vehicle hopped the curb and ran off the road at the intersection of Onsdorff Blvd. and Northeast Grace Ave., running over a tree and leaving tire marks along the sidewalk,” Zollinger stated.
Zollinger added that the residents of the Creekside Heights neighborhood have been told for the last six years that the speed limit would be lowered, but no change has occurred.
“With the high-density building in the Beverly neighborhood across Northeast Grace Ave., it is imperative that the speed limit be lowered to account for the residential zone it now travels through,” she commented.
One commenter stated she expected an expletive word be quoted in regards to Battle Ground, being “little Portland.”
Another, Kathy Coffland, of Battle Ground, expressed her concerns over the city’s zoning rule prohibiting property such as RVs, boats and utility trailers on private driveways. She added that it needed to be consistent with Ridgefield.
“We pay taxes for our property, yet the city of Battle Ground punishes and fines residents from parking their licensed/insured personal property in their own driveways,” Coffland commented. “Citizens have attended previous city council meetings with well thought out arguments supporting the change only to fall on deaf ears.”
Ridgefield
One topic shared was a local Ridgefield business having issues with the bidding process for the construction of a new elementary school in Ridgefield, which will spark a further story.
Alec Wagner, a Ridgefield resident, expressed concern over the excessive trash along the interstates in Clark County. Wagner added that the state owns and manages them but rarely maintains them.
“Campers and homeless tent encampments also populate along I-5 and I-205 because Clark County Sheriffs refuse to enforce on state land,” Wagner stated. “The state seems to allow it. The reason many people live here is because it is beautiful, however the main roads are eyesores. Our local politicians seem to point fingers at Olympia rather than working together toward creating solutions.”
In an email, Mike Toalson shared his concern over the traffic issues created by the Costco and the upcoming In-N-Out Burger. He stated that Pioneer Street is currently the only practical access for most residents of Ridgefield. Toalson also added that he believed any additional access from Interstate-5 should have been completed prior to the Costco development.
“It was certainly sad to see the beautiful pasture there get destroyed in the name of money,” he stated. “Frankly, all of this development should have taken place on the opposite side of the interstate if at all. Too late now.”
Residents, who did not provide their names, shared their concern over the inoperable splash pad at the Overlook Park that was slated to be completed last summer. The most recent update on the city’s website was from August of 2024. Megan DeMoss, Ridgefield communications manager, stated in an email that the city was not ready to provide a project update yet when inquired about a walkthrough for photos and an interview. DeMoss did add that the city anticipates an update by the end of the month.
Responses from Yacolt and Woodland Facebook groups will be shared in the next Community Focus article in the Wednesday, May 28 edition.
