Funding change will reduce need for rate hikes on town sewer

A change in allocation of revenue from Town of Cathlamet sewer customers will allow the town to reduce its future rate hikes.

Facing a shortfall in sewer and water system revenues for 2017, the council raised rates 10 percent for water and 20 percent for sewer, effective this month. More increases were going to be needed in 2017 for sewer rates, council members said in November.

However, Clerk/Treasurer Kerrie McNally reported Monday at the council's monthly meeting that the town's accounting consultant realized that a change in the sewer revenue distribution would reduce its future rate hikes.

"[The consultant] and I discovered that if we took the allocation of the recent sewer rate increase and applied it to the base fee instead, it could be enough to cover our operating and maintenance costs of the wastewater treatment plant," she told the council in her Monday report.

"Our current surcharge is intended to pay our debt service and is adequately funding it without the increase."

They determined that they could channel the debt service fund portion of the rate increase into maintenance and operations and reduce the need for more rate increases.

In other business, the council postponed or tabled three issues for future decisions. These include:

--Council table approval of a $1,500 contract with the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce for 2017 operations. Council Members Ryan Smith, Sue Cameron and Bernadette Goodroe said they wanted detail in the contract about what services the Chamber would provide.

Council Member Andy Lea said he liked the contract as presented and commented that the council doesn't need to micromanage the Chamber. In the end, Smith and Cameron said they would be a committee to approach the Chamber and get changes made to the contract.

--Council members also expressed concern over a contract with Wahkiakum County for a funding of municipal swimming pool operations.

The county's proposed funding contract calls for a one-top-one spending match up to $50,000. Council Member Smith pointed out that the contract wording could be interpreted to say that if the town didn't spend $50,000, the county could reclaim any funding provided during the year.

County Commissioner Mike Backman was in attendance and said that Ryan's concern wasn't the county's intention.

"If you only spend $25,000, we'll spend $25,000," Backman said. "We're going to match you dollar for dollar."

"It's nice to hear that in person but it doesn't say that on paper," Smith replied.

The council agreed to table action so that Town Attorney Heidi Heywood could work out a clarification with the county prosecuting attorney's office.

--The council also tabled action on a proposal to modify a building moratorium on the Columbia Ridge development off Columbia Street.

The council implemented the moratorium several years ago because streets weren't completed to town standards. According to Fire Chief Fred Johnson, Glengate Loop is narrow and so clogged with parked vehicles that emergency responders couldn't navigate it with a fire truck or ambulance.

However, Johnson said, people want to develop lots on the far side of the development. He suggested the council lift the moratorium on those lots if development homeowners would agree to bring the streets up to standard. At that point, the moratorium could be lifted completely and the town would take over maintenance of the streets.

Again, council members said they wanted more information.

"We need a written proposal, something more concrete," Cameron said.

Johnson said he would prepare a detailed proposal.

The council adopted its budgets for 2017.

Major expenses include funding for a new fire engine, $74,000; repair to the Broadway Street dock, $8,000; support for the library, $38,000; street repair, $22,000; pool operations, $25,000; a share of wages for a manager of the Wahkiakum Community Center, $5,000; stipend increase for emergency responders, $14,000, and water meter replacement, $10,000.

Items not included in the budget include an electric vehicle charging station, an auxiliary building for the fire department, extra funds for the library, and Public Works Department requests other than the new meters.

Finally, Johnson read his letter of resignation as fire chief effective the end of this year.

"I have made this decision with mixed emotions," Johnson said as he read his letter addressed to Mayor Dale Jacobson.

"It has been an honor to work with you during your tenure as mayor. I also extend my gratitude to all the members of the Cathlamet Fire Department that I have served with over the last 40 years; words cannot adequately express my respect for their dedication to duty, their compassion toward persons in the darkest of times, and their selfless commitment to our community.

"Also I want to thank the town and all of its citizens for giving me the opportunity to serve in the Cathlamet Fire Department. It has been a privilege for me to be part of such a fine organization."

Johnson added that he would work as long as needed on current projects such as the moratorium issue.

The council and people attending the meeting responded with a standing ovation.