Board seeks input on proposed land sale in Farm Forest

October 18 , 2007

Next Wednesday, the Wahkiakum School Board will hear public opinion regarding the possible sale of a portion of land known as the “Farm Forest” adjacent to the high school.

The Town of Cathlamet has asked the school district to sell approximately five acres to become the site of the town's new wastewater treatment plant.

At the September 18 meeting, residents Garland Budd and Phyllis Likness expressed concern regarding the property. Budd was concerned that using the area for a wastewater treatment plant would take away an area the school children have used for years. Likness said she was told the property was a dedicated national landmark.

In an executive session, the board decided to appoint Wahkiakum County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow to investigate whether or not the property is a national landmark and whether or not they could sell a portion of the property.

In an August meeting reported August 16 in The Eagle, town consulting engineers said the estimated cost of a wastewater treatment plant constructed on the property would range from $10.5 to $16 million depending on the plant's location. While the Farm Forest site would be the least expensive site for the building, the cost of sewer mains to convey wastewater to the plant and back to the discharge would make it higher overall than building on the existing site, the engineers said.

In a letter to the editor that can be found on page two of this edition, Emit C. Boyd, former Wahkiakum School District superintendent, said that while he doesn’t question the legality of the sale, he questions the wisdom in such sale. His concern is that the wastewater must be pumped uphill to be treated. He is also concerned about the loss of an area that was used for the education of children.

“I think that virtually every grade school student knew the location and the importance of ‘Father Fir,’ a large fir tree believed to be the ancestor of the areas native trees,” he said.

The sale of the property is still being investigated by legal council. Bigelow said he could not comment this week, claiming attorney-client privilege.

The school board next meeting will be October 24 at 7 p.m. in the Wahkiakum High School Library. The public is invited to attend.