Council addresses fireworks, other issues

The Cathlamet Town Council acted on fireworks complaints, sewer rates, and a variety of other issues when it met Monday for its monthly meeting.

Mayor George Wehrfritz reported he had received an unusually high number of complaints from Cathlamet residents about July 4 fireworks that were unusually loud and lasted very late at night.

People said there was an abundance of illegal fireworks with many launched over houses. People reported having terrified animals, he said.

"I hadn't received this kind of feedback before," he said.

Council members agreed.

"I had two terrified goats," said Council Member Wally Wright. "The fireworks were extremely loud and way out of line."

Fire Chief Fred Johnson said county officials had relayed a complaint from an out of town visitor, who happened to be a fire marshal staying at the Elochoman Slough Marina. The man had commented that many of the fireworks in that area were illegal.

After discussion, council members agreed that next year they'll have advanced publicity about what kinds of fireworks may be fired in the city limits, and they'll have a means of enforcing violations.

In other business, Council members toured the old town hall building to see how the renovation is proceeding.

Mayor Wehrfritz displayed three possible color schemes for painting the outside of the building. He said they would be displayed at community events through August and people can vote on their favorite color. In early September, the town can call for bids to paint the refurbished building, which should be finished around that time.

Retiring Librarian Connie Christopher introduced her successor, Carol Blix, who has retired as librarian for Cathlamet schools.

"I'm excited to start this job and I look forward to the future," Blix said.

Wehrfritz thanked Christopher for her work. "You've been a fantastic librarian and have done wonderful work," he said.

The council held its third and final reading of an ordinance amending the town's zoning laws to regulate signs in the commercial district.

Planning Commission Member Jim Reed commented that the changes are designed to preserve Cathlamet's character and to tie in with new street lights, which will be installed this fall, and which are designed to direct light to the ground and not into the sky.

Reed said he had mailed letters to 16 merchants to describe the ordinance and received no comments in return. The ordinance is also designed to be flexible, he said.

The council also passed the first reading of an ordinance amending the sewer rates.

Rates would be capped to ease burdens on certain businesses and landlords.

Wehrfritz added that the town will make up a loss in revenue with a $1.8 million reduction in interest to be paid on a loan financing construction of the town's new waste water treatment plant. He recognized Clerk/Treasurer Tina Schubert's initiative to pursue the loan reduction program.

Council members reviewed the proposed changes and felt there might still be one or two loop holes allowing a customer to pay less than should be paid.

Wehrfritz agreed and added that the best way to address that is to have a comprehensive rate study, something that will take time and expense to analyze water and sewer demand for a year.

"This is not great utility policy," said Council Member Dick Swart. There is an urgent need to aid businesses, he added.

"The only way to support this is to acknowledge that there is more work to be done," he said. "We have to look at this as a stop gap."