Town planning work on water main

On Monday, the Cathlamet Town Council passed a motion to enter into contract with ARC Architects to perform on call work in 2021 for a variety of projects.

“I’m very supportive of this. We have a number of projects that this is vitaly necessary for such as the Chinook Heritage sign. We need these services on the ground,” Council Member David Olson explained.

Town Clerk-Treasure Sarah Clark discussed the status of the Town’s Waterfront Park grant.

“We have received preliminary approval from the Recreation & Conservation Office (RCO) for the water park fund grant which we requested $500,000,” Clark stated. “If we receive the funding we will be able start on July 1st. Until we are awarded the grant we won’t be allowed to be reimbursed for work that is done.”

Mayor Dale Jacobson has written a letter to Representative Rep. Joel McEntire for his support of the RCO grant request which will be deliberated on June 29-30 to “demonstrate a wholehearted support for the project and the grant program,” according to the letter.

Public Works Superintendent David McNally updated the council on the water line from Una Street to 2nd Avenue which will experience more water flow activity with the addition of River Mile 38’s brewery expansion and the Waterfront Park.

“The line is going to need to accommodate for any expansions at Waterfront Park,” McNally explained. “To me it makes sense to rework our line to accommodate this expansion.”

Town Attorney Fred Johnson concurred with McNally’s point. McNally also suggested that the town redirect funds from a backup pump generator to conduct the main line replacement leading down to waterfront development. It was the consensus of the council that the replacement was within budget, but Council Member Robert Stowe expressed concern about which was the priority.

Council Member Laurel Waller moved to reallocate funds and put a bid out on the replacement of the water line; the motion passed.

Finally, the Town passed a resolution: Extending Emergency Proclamation and Providing Temporary Procedures to Respond to The Covid-19 Pandemic. The original Emergency Proclamation was enacted on March 23, 2020, by Mayor Dale Jacobson.