Mayor defends LNG comments before council

In only his second month on the job, Cathlamet Mayor George Wehrfritz found himself at the center of a storm Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the town council.

Citizens and councilors reacted to a letter to the editor of The Eagle published February 4. In it, Wehrfritz responded to a previous letter by Richard Erickson, former executive director of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council, who in turn had criticized a previous letter writer's opposition to the proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal. Wehrfritz commented that Erickson and the LCEDC had worked behind the scenes to bring LNG related industrialization to the Cathlamet waterfront, without the public having clear knowledge of what was occurring.

In the time for public comment, Erickson responded that his work had been directed by the LCEDC board of directors, which included a town council member. He had openly pursued that work, he said, adding that he and the EDC do have to meet privately with businesses to discuss plans that they don't want to divulge.

Erickson and council members noted that the mayor and council had been neutral, or at least hadn't taken a position on the proposed plant.

Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lynda Gerlach read a letter from the Chamber's board of directors and signed by Chamber president Jennifer Hanigan. The Chamber has taken a neutral stance on the Bradwood Landing proposal, the letter said, but it supports economic development and would efforts to bring as much economic benefit as possible to the community if the Bradwood plant is built.

Chris Doumit, a commercial fisherman and waterfront property owner, commented he felt Wehrfritz's letter was against development and commercial use of the waterfront. Most of the waterfront is privately owned, he said, and property owners can use it within the limits of the law.

Councilor Wally Wright commented that Wehrfritz, in signing the letter with his title, mayor of Cathlamet, had upset many people and appeared to be speaking for the council, which is the town's policy making body.

Councilor David Goodroe supported the comment.

"You have a council that determines policy; you implement it (as mayor)," Goodroe said. "I feel you have done a disservice to the council."

"I have no problem with you expressing your opinion," Wright said. "I object to the mayor writing a biased letter when we have gone out of our way to be neutral."

Wright added that chiefs of the county's fire departments, including Cathlamet, have been working with Bradwood Landing sponsors to learn about LNG fire risks and prepare a plan to address local needs.

County Commissioner Dan Cothren commented that the use of the title "mayor" in the signature of the letter had upset him. If the town doesn't need economic development, it should come to the county seeking financial support, he said.

"As a public official, you have to stay neutral or you have no room to negotiate," Cothren said. "You need to know the history of Wahkiakum County and the docks. We have a history of industry on the port docks. That's what we need for economic development."

Wehrfritz stuck to his guns.

Public officials at all levels are free to speak their opinions, he said.

There is a lack of information in the record, he said, and people didn't realize until just last December how the town's waterfront was linked to the proposed plant as a staging ground and moorage site for tugs and escort boats.

The Clatsop County Planning Commission had a letter from the LCEDC, signed by Erickson, telling more information than could be found in the town records, he said.

To Doumit, Wehrfritz responded that he isn't against waterfront development; instead his concern is that plans have been made for the town's waterfront without having been presented to the public. "The perspective of a waterfront property owner is important," he added.

Wehrfritz commented that he felt the discussion and handling of the Bradwood LNG issue among county officials had proceeded better and more openly than at the city level. "It's been very educational," he said.

He added he is trying to stimulate education and debate about the proposal as it affects the town.

"I want us to get on a discovery path," he said. "I don't want to set policy. "I want to have debate."