Council slices through agenda

Members of the Cathlamet Town Council approved Monday several new documents that could benefit community organizations.

The council terminated its long-term lease with Helping Hand Food Bank for a space in Erickson Park for a food bank. Helping Hand had sought the space with intention of placing a pre-fabricated building on it to serve as a food bank and was looking for grants to fund the project.

In the meantime, Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services Department has announced plans to remodel and expand its Elochoman Campus and have further proposed to the community's food banks that they consider sharing new quarters there.

The town approved a real estate lease option agreement with Helping Hand that allows the agency to consider sharing quarters on the county campus with the other food banks, and if that project fails, they can still use Erickson Park.

Fred Johnson, a member of the Helping Hands board of directors, said that board hasn't considered the specific lease agreement, but it has discussed the concept in general and would likely approve it at their meeting later this month.

The council agreed to refund Indian Village Mobile Home Park owner Larry Parsons $2,242 that he had paid in back bills and late fees for bills tenants left unpaid when they moved out without paying up their accounts.

Parsons said he never received notice that the bills were unpaid and were stacking up late fees.

Town Attorney Heidi Heywood recommended making the refund because Parsons hadn't been given the opportunity to clear up the accounts before liens were placed on them.

"I agree," said Councilmember David Goodroe. "We should do our best to notify people. We are public servants."

The council also agreed to waive $922.12 delinquent accounts in the Columbia Ridge Estates. This will allow the sale of lots to be used in a housing project with sale fees paying for the delinquent bills.