Council OK's easement for subdivision's water

Cathlamet town council members approved a request for an easement to serve a planned subdivision when they met for their monthly meeting Tuesday.

Council members also reported on construction projects, grant applications and the state audit of the town's finances.

The council voted 4-0 to authorize an easement across town property east of town on SR 4 for Les Burns.

Burns and his partners are planning a 25-house subdivision on land near the Burns Construction rock pit. They would connect to the end of the town's water system at Fern Hill, run the line across town timber land and connect to a 25,000 gallon reservoir at the highest point of the subdivision.

The six-inch main would follow the planned streets of the subdivision, Burns said.

He noted that the system wouldn't be adequate to supply fire hydrants.

"It would be adequate for household use but not for fire flow," he said.

David Vik, town public works superintendent, noted that the reservoir's size is the factor that keeps the system from meeting fire flow specifications.

"If the mains are sized properly, you could come back later and say, “Oh, we have fire flow,'" he said. He added that the six-inch main would probably be inadequate if someone tried to develop an industrial facility on the rock pit property and connect to the main for water.

Mayor George Wehrfritz noted that the town has already, in effect, agreed to provide water because it has included the area in its formally recognized service area.

The council, Burns and others present discussed the fire flow issue. One speaker pointed out that a new subdivision just up the Elochoman Valley Road is also within the town's water service area, but it isn't connected to the water system; instead residents will get their water from wells. Other customers have mains which don't supply fire flow.

"We are are providing water to lots of folk who don't meet the standards," Wehrfritz said.

Vik suggested the system could have blow off valves and a tank filling station that fire trucks could use. Burns said they've already planned a drive-up access to a pond which could be used for a filling station.

Burns commented that initially the subdivision will have one house, and given the state of the economy, construction of new houses is likely to be slow.

The council acted on other items of business.

Council members approved a proposed easement with the Wahkiakum School District for a road easement across school timber property to the planned site of the town's new wastewater treatment plant.

To get the Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors to grant the easement, the council agreed that the district could connect a water line which the town will construct to the plant, and the council agreed that the easement would lapse if the new plant isn't built within five years.

Wehrfritz and town engineer Ken Alexander noted that the town's federal funding applications are pending and announcements should come in June. Alexander said plans have been submitted to federal granting authorities for review.

Council members also discussed construction plans.

Vik reported that a contractor is finishing up work to install a new waterline to the Pioneer Community Center and that energy retrofitting is nearly complete in the town hall.

Engineers are designing specifications for improvements to Third Street from SR 4 to the Elochoman Slough Marina. Current nose-in parking doesn't fit town codes he said, and the council will hold a public meeting to present options and gather input before making final designs. Construction should occur this year.

Wehrfritz announced that representatives of the Washington State Auditor are starting to complete their work.

He expects a final conference and report in June.

"The council and general public should be aware that the audit end point will be the beginning of a significant reform process," he said.