Council to hold special meeting about park

The Cathlamet Town Council will hold a special meeting February 5, 6 p.m., at the new fire hall meeting room to discuss if and how Erickson Park should be renovated.

The council has asked the Park Leadership Team to provide additional information on what trees and plants should be preserved or removed and to identify potential costs to the town.

The council's Salary and Revenue Committee is to recommend potential sources of funding to keep within the approved 2008 budget. The town attorney will comment on liability concerns.

According to Mayor Dick Swart, the park team has recommended a strategy which preserves viable older trees, removes unsafe or sick trees, replaces ivy and blackberry vines with native plants, adds new pathways and interpretive features, and maximizes the use of local expertise and equipment to keep costs down.

The team seeks council support to develop a full fledged plan and budget.

The team urges the public to attend the special council meeting and provide input to the council on what will be acceptable to the people, Swart said. Further public meetings may be scheduled if needed.

Park Leadership Team members are Swart, Town Forester Bill Olsen, consulting botanist Dr. Rob Stockhouse, logger Jerry DeBriae, Wahkiakum High School science teacher Jeff Rooklidge, WHS vocational education teacher Kyle Hurley, park activist Bob Roche, and skate park sponsors Diane and Lee Tischer.