Town rates increase

Cathlamet residents may have noticed that their water and sewer bill increased this month.

During a meeting to discuss details for a job announcement at the Town of Cathlamet last Wednesday, acting Treasurer Sylvia Costich reminded the town council members of an ordinance passed in May of 2015 that sets an automatic increase in utility rates each year. According to the ordinance, the increase is equal to the “annual percentage change published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for September of the prior year for Consumer Price Index.”

This year, that means an increase of 3.4 percent, according to Costich.

Costich was not aware of the ordinance in January, but the increase will go into effect this month.

In other business, the town council discussed a job description for a full time accounting assistant position available at town hall and agreed unanimously to a salary range of $20.28 to $22.94.