Council supports tribal recognition; OK's feasibility study for sewer expansion

On Monday, The Cathlamet Town Council passed a resolution in support of recognizing the Chinook Indian Nation after decades of “neglect” by the United States, in order to encourage Congress to do the same at the federal level.

The town’s resolution is a commitment to reminding everyone of “the historic and ongoing injustice and injury” to the Chinook as well an expression of support for passage of legislation to restore the federal recognition of their tribal status.

“It is truly meaningful to us that all of the communities within our aboriginal territories support our Chinook communities,” said Tony Johnson, chair of the Chinook Nation tribal council. Those territories include Lower Chehalis, Willapa, Lower Chinook, Wakhiakum, and Clatsop areas.

Other items discussed included a proposal presented by Jon Hinton of Gray & Osborne which outlined the cost and scope of a feasibility study for sewer system expansion along Boege Road. A motion was passed to approve the proposal and the study will commence with a budget of $13,600.

Hinton will begin a mail and phone survey campaign to determine public support for a Local Improvement District (LID) that would “distribute the cost of repaying potential loans in an equitable manner amongst the properties benefitted by the project.” Hinton needs a 60% response rate to have a valid and complete feasibility study.

The council reviewed the latest timber harvest report from the Town Forester Bill Olsen who wrote that “The Town of Cathlamet netted $644,589.91...the 50 acre unit yielded over 1.6 million board feet of Timber.” Olsen also reported that 20,020 Douglas fir seedlings were bought from Ryan Kaino of Naselle Timber for the replanting.

A right-of-way permit extension by The Spar Restaurant & Bar owner Stephanie Vossen was denied by the council despite an effort by Council Member David Olson who proposed an amended extension of 30 days instead of 90 days.

Several council members cited concerns expressed by Sheriff Mark Howie about the outdoor structure in front of The Spar which now must come down in two weeks.

“I cannot extend the permit in light of what was originally approved upon,” Council Member Bill Wainwright declared.

An interlocal agreement with Cowlitz County was quickly passed to cost efficiently restripe the town’s fading road lines and any additional projects not exceeding $10,000 altogether.

Council members agreed to move $650,000 of excess funds from the town’s checking account fund into a Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) fund to begin incurring interest. An additional interlocal agreement between the town, PUD, and Port District 1 to enable a public Wi-Fi system stretching from Pioneer Church to the marina was also passed by the council.