Council works on budget, hears reports

The Cathlamet Town Council continued work on developing its 2013 budgets at a workshop meeting last Friday.

Councilmembers approved the budget for the first of three readings on October 15; on Friday, they received some updated figures and discussed some program concepts.

Mayor George Wehrfritz said that he wanted to use money normally outsourced to the now defunct Lower Columbia Economic Deveopment Council to fund economic activities in the town budget.

Some of the funds will be allocated to professional fees to make sure permits are in place for events like the Cathlamet Downhill Corral skateboard festival. Other funds will go to the Public Works Department to cover expenses for dealing with and cleaning up after events.

Economic development funds can also go to the Pioneer Community Center and to the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce for promotional efforts.

Councilmember Bob Rendler asked that the street budget include funds for striping streets. Clerk/treasurer Tina Schubert said there is some money in the contracting maintenance line, but perhaps the council wants to consider starting a reserve line to build money for striping.

Councilmember Wally Wright said the Pioneer Community Center needs to have its fire sprinkler system connected to a water main.

Wehrfritz said that should occur when the town hall building is remodeled and gets its own sprinkler system. The Pioneer Community Association is raising funds for the project and will pay for it, he said. He added that the town fire marshal has given the association a variance from the sprinkler requirement so they can connect during the town hall construction project.

Wehrfritz reported on an October 16 meeting he attended about sewer and water utilities. The Chamber of Commerce had called the meeting with town and county officials and citizens to discuss ways to get more customers connected to the town sewer and water systems.

Discussion focused on extending the main up Boege Road and on the town's water and sewer rates. The increasing rates are hurting some businesses, participants said.

"I felt like it was a bait and switch," Wehrfritz commented. "I tried to make a point that our rates are not outrageous. I'm sympathetic to home owners and renters."

Wehrfritz recommended the council study rates and consider changing them so that sewer rates are linked to water consumption. That will help some people and hurt others.

"Then we'll have a room full of different people," he said.