Council hears fiber optic franchise

High speed broad band internet access is coming to Wahkiakum, Pacific and Cowlitz counties.

A not-for-profit King County company, Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet), is working on a contract to install the lines in the state's rural counties, and they plan to start installing a fiber optic line along SR 4 in mid-April.

Company representative Ted Perry told the Cathlamet Town Council Tuesday that it needed a franchise agreement with the town to install the lines along Columbia, River and Una streets, with a branch to the Cathlamet schools. The company has an agreement with Wahkiakum PUD to use the utility's poles.

The line will start in Longview and go as far as Tokeland.

The council approved an ordinance for its first reading to grant the franchise. Council members asked Attorney Tom Doumit to check details on similarity to franchises in other areas before the final readings and adoption at the council's March meeting.

Perry said the company won't provide access to individuals, but it will to service providers such as Wahkiakum West and CenturyLink, which can in turn provide high speed access to their customers.

In other business at Tuesday's council meeting:

--Council members expressed dissatisfaction with the second set of proposed committee assignments from Mayor George Wehrfritz, who was out of town.

Council Member Wally Wright objected to receiving the proposed assignments at the start of the meeting; they should have been delivered earlier, he said.

"I resent being treated like a mushroom," he said, "being kept in the dark and fed fertilizer."

Council members pointed out that the mayor had proposed three council members be on the finance committee with the mayor and clerk/treasurer; town Attorney Tom Doumit said he hadn't seen the list and would have warned the mayor that having three council members on a committee would constitute a quorum and put the committee's meetings under the requirements of the state Open Public Meetings Act.

--The council voted to authorize Wehrfritz to enter into a local agreement with Wahkiakum County Public Works Department for assistance in designing improvements to 3rd Street so that requirements of state funding agencies are satisfied.

--The council approved Wehrfritz's recommendation to appoint members of a committee to study the town's walkability issues and make recommendations to the council.

Committee members will include Esther Ashe, Hilary Baker, Dan Casler, Kate Hanigan, Marsha LaFarge, James Reed, Rose Rendler, Jerry Wetle and Valerie Windsor.

All are walkers or runners who would be aware of issues and needs, Wehrfritz said in his written recommendation.

--The council voted final approval on amendments to the municipal code to expand and include definitions of hotels, motels and other transient lodging in the town sewer and water rates.

--The council also approved for initial reading an ordinance changing town office hours to Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1-4:30 p.m., and, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

With final approval at the council's March meeting, the new hours would take effect April 1.