Long discussed Kelso-Longview merger on the ballot, sort of

COWLITZ COUNTY, Wash. -- Kelso and Longview share a Chamber of Commerce and a telephone directory. Washington State Highway 4 is the main traffic artery for both Cowlitz County towns along the Columbia River. They’re technically only a few miles apart.

They share a lot – but does that mean they should get married?

Voters were deciding Tuesday whether or not city leaders for the two Southwest Washington communities should merge into one.

The vote was non-binding and asks whether Kelso City Council and Longview City Council should each spend time, money and resources studying the pros and cons of a municipal merger.

Merging would save money and eliminate duplicating each various city department, elected department – and election.

It would create one tax base to pay for all these duplicities, as was pointed out byThe Daily News.

But what about the new municipality’s name? Would it be Kelso-Longview? Longview-Kelso? Kongview? Or start from scratch?

Voters won’t face that question at the ballot box but as the article points out, it’s sure to be on the minds of everyone on both sides of the river Tuesday.

Read the complete TDN articlehere.

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