Council OK's street vacation plan at marina

Members of the Cathlamet town council covered a wide range of topics at their Monday meeting.

The council agreed on a plan to vacate a portion of Beal Street for Port District 1; they went over a proposed change order for their street lighting project, and they addressed a variety of other issues ranging from sewer and water plants to the Cathlamet Downhill Corral.

Earlier this year, Port District 1 Commissioner Bob Kizziar presented a request from the port commission to vacate undeveloped Beal Street; half the right-of-way between 2nd and 3rd streets would have gone to the port, the other half would have been split between property owners Cathlamet Dental and Mayor Dale Jacobson.

Council members developed a response: They wouldn't vacate the portion between the two property owners, but they would trade the other half of the right-of-way for a port-owned lot across 2nd Street from the new town hall.

On Monday, Kizziar said the port wouldn't want to part with the lot in question, but it would be happy to stipulate that it could be used for town purposes except when needed for marina use.

Council members agreed with this proposal and asked that documents be prepared for action at the May meeting.

Mayor Jacobson and Council Member Andy Lea, who is a principal in Drop Anchor Brewery, which would benefit from the vacation, left the meeting room and took no part in discussions.

Public Works Director Duncan Cruickshank presented a proposed change order for the long delayed project to replace streetlights on Main Street.

The council has been considering taking legal action against its consulting engineering firm because of delays and mistakes. Cruickshank said the firm's principal "has been working diligently to work themselves out of the hole." The $34,000 change order

would install five lights.

Cruickshank added that grant

funding agencies should compensate the town for the change order.

After discussing the proposal, council members agreed they wanted more information from the funding agencies, and they agreed to hold a special meeting next Monday for final action.

In other business:

--Mayor Jacobson reported that he has had no communication with organizers of the Cathlamet Downhill Corral Skateboard Festival, and so he wondered if the festival is in the town's best interest.

In subsequent discussion, Council Member David Goodroe emphasized the economic benefit to town businesses.

"It has grown; it's on the map; I don't want it to go away," he said.

The council also noted that the Downhill Corral is scheduled this year on the same August weekend as the county fair. Council members, with input from Fire Chief Fred Johnson, agreed that two festivals wouldn't be too taxing for emergency services.

"I don't see whey we can't have both events," Lea said.

A new resident of the town, Ryan Smith, volunteered to work with Lea to coordinate the town's arrangements with festival sponsors.

--Cruickshank reported an estimated cost for relining the municipal swimming pool totals $68,487. It would be cheaper to cover only the bottom of the pool, but he wouldn't recommend that action. The concrete walls and floor of the pool, built in the 1970's, is old and cracking, he said, and thus leaks water.

--The town is facing a $640,000 bill to dispose of the biosolids taken from the old sewage treatment ponds, Cruickshank said. The contractor encountered much more biosolids than estimated. Some funding is available, he said, and it might be possible to cover the expense with a low interest loan of $117,000. Town officials will begin negotiations to address the situation.