Town council roport

On December 16, the Cathlamet Town Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting. During the first Public Comment period, a resident asked the Town Council to address ADA access and parking at Town Hall and the Library. Another citizen revealed the results of a recent study conducted on the Strong Park tree by a certified arborist. The arborist used a resistograph to test the tree’s age and determined it to be around 230 years old.

Sheriff Mason reported that the vehicle stops occurring on Columbia St. or adjacent accounted for about 64% of all traffic stops within the Town.

The Council approved a request for an adjustment to be made to a resident’s winter usage average after a leak had been repaired. The Council also approved the fiber optics conduit installation permit on the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge.

There were three Washington State Transportation Improvement Board Grants approved for the Butler Street Reconstruction Project and the S. Third Street sidewalk. A change was made to the 2025 Annual Budget that would move $10,000 from Reserves to Legal Services for any future sewer and water line legal expenses.

The adoption of the Town’s Water System Plan was unanimously approved by the Council and opens up the opportunity for funding from the Washington State Department of Health Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

During the final Public Comment period, Wahkiakum County Commissioner Lee Tischer reported that the County Courthouse’s 2025 utility rate increase of $17,000 “will negatively impact our budget.” PUD General Manager Dan Kay asked, “How will the Town fund the loan payment if the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund construction loan funding is awarded, and would that funding come from projects that impact the PUD and its customers?” The mayor apologized for the late notice of the utility rate increases and encouraged anyone who is substantially impacted to please talk to Town staff and/or himself.