Council rescinds rate increase for port park models

Facing possible law suits over application of ordinances, the Cathlamet town council on Monday rescinded a motion it passed in December regarding sewer service fees for the park model cabins at the Elochoman Slough Marina.

Council members voted to amend the ordinance which sets the fees to include new forms of transient housing such as motels, bed and breakfasts, and the park models. The existing ordinance contains no definition of motels or park models, and council members in December felt they had to assess fees as if the cabins were for permanent, not transient housing.

They also voted 4-1 to table collection of fees that weren't assessed for a period dating back to September, 2007, in which the town hadn't billed for the units because of a computer programing problem.

Instead, the town will continue billing as it has until the ordinance is changed, which should be no later than April, according to the motion to table.

The town had billed the port $4,275 for connections to the port's five park model cabins at the Elochoman Slough Marina.

The council met in executive session for 70 minutes before discussing the matter; the session was closed to discuss potential litigation.

In other business at the special meeting Monday, the council appointed Betsy Nelson to a vacancy on the library board, and it appointed Audie Belcher to a vacancy on the town planning commission.