Clark County Forester Hunter Decker was recognized with an Outstanding Employee Award for his environmental protection efforts and management of the county's sustainable forest management plan. Additionally, an update was provided on the East Fork Lewis River reconnection project, which is actively restoring three miles of critical habitat and floodplain. To support this environmental restoration, volunteers and contractors planted thousands of native trees and plants to cool streams, improve wildlife habitats, and stabilize the area.
Forests_green_space
Clark County Close Up · Apr 26, 2026 · 7:42–9:41 · Watch on CVTV ↗
What was said
6:39 servant and outreach professional, one of the things I love most is to be connected with the community, to be able to serve the community and so to get that love right back from Knack and all the neighborhood associations, it's a great honor. I think this mural is really important to the Clark County community because it took an ugly looking wall and made it into something beautiful and it wasn't just something that Public Works did. This was really from the community, by the community, for the community and we really appreciate working with you and we look forward to doing more of this type of thing in the future. Hi, my name is Kirk Van Gelder and I play two roles. The first one is President of the Prep Still Neighborhood Association and the second one is the Vice Chair of the Neighborhood Association of Clark County. Very important to have nominated Hunter for the Outstanding Employee Award because of
7:33 his commitment to excellence in his job for county governance. He demonstrates excellence in all that he does. He's outstanding in customer service, community involvement and his nine years of experience in the county has demonstrated a pattern of that excellence. Hunter's roles are pivotal to Clark County in two ways. One is in community safety and the other is in forest sustainability. Thank you Hunter for your professionalism, your expertise, your concern for community members and the forests around us. Yeah, so my name is Hunter Decker and I'm the Clark County Forester for Public Works Lands Division. Well, I'm honored to have won the award for the fact that I've grown up here in Clark
8:29 County my whole life and the, you know, level sense of community pride I think goes back to when I was an Eagle Scout. My role as the forester for Clark County Public Works is important to the community because it protects the environment as well as looking for different ways of protecting the environment through permitting and through the management of our sustainable forest management plan. As the award winner, my message for the community would be thank you knowing that I was, you know, awarded and nominated this really gives me a sense of pride to continue to keep helping the community the best I can.
9:25 For more information, please visit clark.wa.gov/county-manager/neighborhood-associations-council-clark-county. In November 2025, voters elected a 15-member review commission to recommend amendments to the Clark County Charter. Any changes would need to go to a county-wide vote in general election. Recently we spoke with Brandon Erickson, Chair, Duncan Haas, Vice Chair, and Kathy Garber, Secretary of the Charter Review Commission, to get a progress update and discuss what proposals may be on the November 2026 general election ballot. Hello, I'm Jim Demmon with Clark County Close-Up. What's your background and why did you decide to run for the Charter Review Commission and Brandon we'll start with you. Well, I'm Brandon Erickson and I've lived in Clark County for 30 years.
10:24 I live in the Florida area, I represent District 2. I own a consulting engineering firm and I ran for the Charter Review Commission because I love Clark County and I want the Charter to play an important role in improving the lives of Clark County citizens. Okay, Duncan. Duncan Haas, I've lived in Clark County most of my life and I've been in public service
Evidence (2 matches)
semantic semantic 8:41–9:41
My role as the forester for Clark County Public Works is important to the community because it protects the environment as well as looking for different ways of protecting the environment through permitting and through the management of our sustainable forest management plan. As the award winner, my message for the community would be thank you knowing that I was, you know, awarded and nominated this really gives me a sense of pride to continue to keep helping the community the best I can. For more information, please visit clark.wa.gov/county-manager/neighborhood-associations-council-clark-county.
semantic semantic 7:42–8:24
He's outstanding in customer service, community involvement and his nine years of experience in the county has demonstrated a pattern of that excellence. Hunter's roles are pivotal to Clark County in two ways. One is in community safety and the other is in forest sustainability. Thank you Hunter for your professionalism, your expertise, your concern for community members and the forests around us. Yeah, so my name is Hunter Decker and I'm the Clark County Forester for Public Works Lands Division.