Council considers sign ordinance, fire sprinkler need

The Cathlamet Town Council handled a variety of business when they met Monday.

Planning Commission member Jim Reed presented a report and recommendation from that board for updates to the town's sign ordinance. The recommendations in the document represent a lot of compromise, he said.

"Not one person on this planning commission would have drafted this ordinance," Reed said. "We have different backgrounds . . . This became what we could all accept."

The ordinance sets a limit on the size of signs, where they can be located, how much space they can take up on sidewalks in the commercial area, and even if lighted signs should be left on at night. Existing signs that don't meet the new standards will be grandfathered and allowed to continue.

"The sign ordinance mirrors current sign practices in the town and is very permissive compared to sign ordinances of other towns," says the cover letter from the planning commission.

Town Attorney Heidi Heywood will put the recommendations in ordinance form so the council can vote on it at its May and June meetings.

The council accepted a recommendation from Fire Chief Fred Johnson to adopt a proposed policy for first aid assistance for persons who may not be able to pay for it.

The policy says the town will provide "pre-hospital health care services" without discrimination to persons with inadequate or no means to pay for needed care.

The town uses a third party to bill for ambulance service. Persons unable to pay will be able to apply for a waiver through the billing company.

The town will write off debt in percentages based on the federal poverty guidelines.

The council discussed a couple issues regarding the Pioneer Community Center, also known as the Pioneer Church.

The town owns the facility but has contracted with the Pioneer Community Association (PCA) for fund raising and improvements. The PCA puts on concerts or events to raise funds for improvements; the town office is responsible for building insurance and scheduling of other events, and officials say some recent events have been scheduled improperly.

Mayor George Wehrfritz said he is talking with PCA officials about usage rules "with an eye for use by community organizations. We want to make it easier for groups to use it."

The building doesn't have the required functioning fire suppression sprinkler system, and it might be a violation of town policy to allow groups to use the building, said Council Member Wally Wright.

Chief Johnson added that the building's occupancy permit had expired long ago and that the PCA has been raising funds for improvements such as completing installation of the sprinkler system.

"The PCA has had a number of years to follow through on the sprinkler situation," he said. "It's time to talk to the PCA. The town has taken stringent action against others in the past."

Officials agreed that there will be a good opportunity to complete the sprinkler system when a contractor remodels the old Town Hall building near the Pioneer Church this summer.

"This is on the agenda in the conversations we're having," Wehfritz said.

In other business:

--The town gave approval last week for Pacific Tech Construction to proceed with the Town Hall remodel. Public Works Director Duncan Cruikshank expects crews will start mobilizing next week. Construction is expected to be completed in September.

--Wehrfritz said the town is ready to proceed with a contract to replace street lights. That work is scheduled in the fall to avoid conflict with the town hall remodel, he said.

--Wehrfritz also commented on a rumor that Cascade Networks hasn't started providing high speed fiber optic internet service because the town hasn't awarded a franchise for the work.

The franchise was awarded in July, 2012, Wehfritz said.