Kelso, Washington Development News
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Kelso City Council - July 7, 2026.mp4
Published: Jul 8, 2026
Kelso Approves No-Cost Energy Audit for City Buildings
The city is entering into an interagency agreement with the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) to conduct an investment-grade energy audit on city-owned buildings, including City Hall, the train depot, and the public works shop. This audit is at no cost to the city and will provide estimates for upgrading lighting and HVAC systems to aid in budget planning for the current fiscal year. The agreement is with DES to hire a third-party firm, Custom Energy, which has a prior successful working relationship with the city for clean building compliance. The audit is expected to be completed by October 1st.
Kelso to Temporarily Source Water from Longview Due to Summer Shortage
The city is facing a temporary water shortage due to low river flow from dam releases, low rainfall, and issues with the rainy well, exacerbated by increased summer consumption. To address this, the city plans to obtain water from Longview, a measure previously taken during the Red Lion fire. While a new well is expected in 1.5 to 2 years, it will not be operational in time for this summer's demand. The city will use water from Longview on an as-needed basis, with no current mechanism for repayment from the Red Lion fire insurance for the water used during that event.
Kelso City Council Approves Previous Meeting Minutes
The City Council considered and ultimately approved the draft minutes for the June 16th regular council meeting. The approval was a routine administrative step to finalize the records of the previous meeting.
Kelso City Council Amends Transportation Improvement Program to Remove Controversial Complete Streets Project
The council debated a resolution to adopt the six-year transportation improvement program (TIP) for 2027-2032, specifically addressing the inclusion of the 4th and 5th Avenue Complete Streets program, which involves pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements along with lane width adjustments on the Allen Street Bridge. Concerns were raised by council members regarding the project's impact on freight traffic, its unfavorable nature to constituents, and the council's previous unanimous vote to remove the element from the agenda. City staff and the City Manager presented arguments for its inclusion, citing potential financial repercussions of $242,000 if the project is discarded, the state's jurisdiction over parts of the project, and the increasing requirement for complete streets initiatives to secure future state and federal grants. A motion to amend the resolution to remove the 4th and 5th Avenue Complete Streets program was passed, followed by a vote to approve the amended resolution, which effectively removed the controversial element from the TIP.
Kelso City Council Approves Contracts for Public Works Yard and Safety Improvements
The council unanimously approved the contract award for the public works yard improvements to DeWitt Construction for $2,723,033.60. This project includes paving, utility improvements, yard reorganization for efficiency, and security upgrades like fencing and lighting, with the aim of reducing maintenance and ensuring compliance with stormwater rules. Additionally, a contract was approved for systemic 2020 improvements with Clark and Sons for $413,504 to install rectangular reflecting beacons and other pedestrian safety features, fully covered by a state grant.
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The Kelso News archive
Kelso City Council - June 16, 2026.mp4
Kelso City Council - June 2, 2026.mp4
Kelso City Council - May 19, 2026.mp4
Kelso City Council - May 5, 2026.mp4
Kelso City Council - April 21, 2026.mp4
Kelso City Council - April 7, 2026.mp4
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