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Employment jump tops state, PortlandSTEVE KADELstaff reporter

Clark County added jobs at a faster rate than the state of Wash-ington, Portland and the state of Oregon during the 12-month pe-riod ending in August.

The county’s employment numbers grew by 5,800 full-time jobs, or 4.2 percent, according to figures from the state of Washing-ton Employment Security Depart-ment. Regional economist Scott Bailey, who compiled the report, said the trend is almost certain to continue in the near future.

“There are some developments that have been announced that will help job growth, such as the Banfield veterinary offices that

will move here (from Portland) in 2015,” he said. “That will add to our job count in Clark County, and they are in expansion mode and will be hiring new people.”

The county’s 4.2 percent job growth rate compares with 2.5 percent for the state of Washing-ton, 2.4 percent for Oregon, 3.0 percent for the Portland metro area, and 1.8 percent nationwide for the same period.

Clark County Commissioner David Madore cheered the find-ings, saying the county began increasing its employment num-bers last year.

“There was a major turn-around then,” he said. “This is a very positive report. Clark Coun-ty is taking off and there are lots of good indicators. We are much healthier than other places in Washington or Oregon.”

Three major employment ar-

eas led the surge. Transportation and utilities added 1,500 jobs for a 5.9 percent increase, profes-sional and business services was up 1,200 jobs or 7.3 percent, and construction added 1,000 jobs for a 10 percent boost.

“Every major sector was up over the year,” Bailey said. “We’ve seen pretty broad growth.”

Clark County nonfarm employment2010: 130,000 jobs2011: 130,000 jobs2012: 131,500 jobs2013: 135,000 jobs2014: 140,000 jobs

aT a glanCeClark County job growth soars

Photo by Mike Schultz

CLARK COUNTY’S ECONOMY is booming, as evidenced by single family home construction such as this house in the Hockinson area.

Opponents, supporters stake out turf Sept. 23STEVE KADELstaff reporter

Four dozen people attended an informational meeting Sept. 23 on the proposed Clark County Home Rule Charter during a ses-sion that sometimes resembled a football game with rival fans.

Audience members at the Battle Ground Community Cen-ter applauded statements they liked, and one charter foe tried to shout down a pro-charter speak-er. Several citizens rose to make long-winded statements rather than ask questions as the ground rules dictated.

Even Peter Silliman, a former member of the Board of Freehold-ers that wrote the charter propos-al, got into the act by calling out

Tempers flare at county charter meeting

learn moreFort Vancouver Regional Library will sponsor educational forums about the proposed Clark County Home Rule Charter in coming weeks.A meeting is scheduled Tue., Oct. 7, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Ridgefield Community Library, 201 N. Main Ave. Another public session will be Thu., Oct. 16, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Battle Ground Library, 1207 SE Eight Way.

aT a glanCe

Months of discussion on membership may end with no changesMARViN CASEPublisher Emeritus

What began in June 2013 as a routine, periodic review of C-TRAN board membership and included numerous meet-ings and even a lawsuit may soon end with no changes in board make-up.

C-TRAN spokesman Jim Quintana said last week that

county Superi-or Court judge David Gre-gerson has de-cided that if ei-ther Vancouver or Clark Coun-ty loses a board seat, then the bloc veto pro-visions of the

bylaws are void for both parties.The bloc veto issue had been

a stumbling block in the board membership issue.

Long-time C-TRAN board member and past chair Bill Gan-

ley said the court decision likely will mean that board membership will remain unchanged.

State law requires organi-zations such as the C-TRAN board to review their composi-tion every four years and to de-cide whether to make changes in their representative structure. The 9-member C-TRAN board established a 10-member com-mittee for the purpose of con-ducting this review.

The committee first met in June 2013. Despite several meet-

Judge rules on C-TRAN bloc veto issue

biLL gANLEY

See C-TRAN on Page A3

See gROwTH on Page A3

See CHARTER on Page A5

See inside for your copy of ReCoup!

Photo by Mike Schultz

Highly-ranked Hawks soaring

HOCKiNSON HigH SCHOOL football coach Rick Steele (right) congratulates senior running back Austen Johnson (33) after one of his three touchdowns during the Hawks’ 49-0 win over Mark Morris Friday at Hockinson High School. The Hawks, ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press state Class 2A poll, are now 4-0 this season and have outscored their opponents 167-3.