Clark County’s Chelatchie Prairie Railroad and a mining overlay issue that led to millions in lost state grants were focal points during a recent County Council candidate forum.
On November 5, candidates Wil Fuentes and Chuck Keplar will compete for the Clark County Council District 3 seat. One of them will be responsible for decisions impacting the county’s railroad and ensuring compliance with state laws to secure critical grant funding.
At an Oct. 5 forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Clark County at the Camas Public Library, both candidates discussed their views on the railroad and the recent loss of state funds due to noncompliance. In this general election, all Clark County voters can participate in selecting the District 3 candidate, unlike the primary where voting was district-specific.
Chelatchie-Prairie Railroad use
The county-owned Chelatchie-Prairie Railroad stretches 33 miles from Vancouver to Chelatchie, passing through Yacolt and Battle Ground. Since 2012, the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad (PVJR) has operated the rail and plans to use it to transport aggregate materials from Chelatchie to the south. Recently, Clark County has considered creating “freight-rail dependent use” (FRDU) zones, which would enable easier business access to the rail in rural areas zoned for commercial or industrial use.
The City of Battle Ground and the Town of Yacolt have expressed concerns about potential traffic and environmental impacts from increased industrial use of the railroad. Both issued resolutions opposing the FRDU and future rail use. The candidates were asked how they would address these concerns.
Fuentes questioned potential displacement of seniors in RV communities located near the railroad. He also highlighted the environmental risks posed by the heavy-industrial use of the rail and emphasized the importance of an economic impact statement before moving forward.
“So, until it’s produced, I think we can utilize that information to make a decision. But, as of now, it does concern me that it would displace a lot of folks and create potential risks to our environment,” Fuentes said.
Keplar shared similar reservations about the lack of an impact study before the decision to create a heavy-industrial overlay. He stressed that, without an economic study, it’s impossible to fully understand or balance the potential benefits and risks.
“We need to understand that, if it benefits the whole because the economy is there, then we need to look at the individuals that it impacts negatively and make sure that we take care of those individuals if we are to implement that decision,” Keplar said.
State noncompliance and lost funds
A 2022 County Council decision to approve a mining overlay for Granite Construction on a 330.95-acre site in Chelatchie took Clark County out of compliance with state regulations. The Washington Growth Management Hearings Board ruled the overlay violated the state Environmental Policy Act. As a result, the county lost eligibility for $6.4 million in clean water project grants and short-term loans over the next five years. The decision is currently under review by the Court of Appeals, but both candidates were asked how they would approach the county’s noncompliance moving forward.
Keplar underscored the importance of consulting with experts on state law and grant funding to navigate the situation effectively.
“I don’t think any person can sit up here and say that they know all of the issues … [than] the people that are highly involved in these things, and so I would go and have those conversations … to make sure that we’re making those decisions not only to stay in compliance but to make good decisions for the county because … the current issue is that we’re actually costing the county money by being out of compliance with state laws and regulations,” Keplar said.
Fuentes agreed that listening to legal counsel is essential. He pointed out that the previous council majority ignored warnings about potential noncompliance, leading to the loss of grants and low-interest loans vital to addressing the county’s climate challenges.
“I won’t say that every one of our council members was, but the majority of them were not effective, and as a result we lost … money that is absolutely needed in our county to address these issues,” Fuentes said.
Voters can find more information on the candidates at electwil.com and electkeplar.com.
