The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Members of the Cathlamet town council discussed a variety of projects when they met May 18.

The council did approve a 10 percent increase in fees for using the municipal swimming pool.

Public Works Director Duncan Cruickshank, a former pool manager, said the increases were the first in at least four years.

The increases will boost locker room only admission from $1 to $1.10; child and senior citizens from $2.50 to $2.75; adults, from $3 to $3.30, and families from $10 to $11. Other rates have similar increases.

Engineers from Gibbs and Olsen Engineers recommended the town continue with its planned disposal of biosolids from the old sewer plant site, which involves paying a contractor to haul them to a Woodland area farm disposal site.

The disposal needs to start this year, said Tom Zerkel and Ken Alexander, and it would take 14 months or more for the town to go through the permitting process to dispose of the biosolids on town timblerland.

Because of an unexpected high quantity of biosolids, the town will need to come up with funds to cover a $105,854.37 shortfall. They said the town could qualify for a federal loan of $58,220. Repaying this would cost each customer about 41 cents per month.

Jacobson said he didn't want the council to make a decision at the meeting so that they could evaluate the recommendation. The council agreed and said they would act at their June meeting.

In other business:

--The council passed a resolution setting a June 15 date for a public hearing for final readings on vacating a portion of Beal Street. Port District 1 requested the vacation of the undeveloped street so that it could develop the property.

--The council approved a request from the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce to hold the Bald Eagle Festival July 18.

--The council also discussed aspects of the Cathlamet Downhill Corral Skateboard Festival with coordinator JP Rowan and Skip Marcotte. Council members said they would act on the permit for the festival after they had reviewed insurance. However, the council gave consensus for the organizers to proceed with planning the festival, which will be August 20-23.