Town addressing park damage

Town of Cathlamet officials are planning to address damage which Erickson Park sustained during the November and December storm events.

Mayor Dick Swart said there was serious damage to over a dozen large and medium-sized trees, to fencing along the ball fields, and to the footpaths in the woods.

Torrential rains in November soaked the park grounds, he said, and two wind storm events toppled and uprooted many trees. An undetermined number sustained varying degrees of damage due to the wind, subsequent ice formation and snowfall.

Swart said repairing the storm damage will require experienced loggers with heavy-duty equipment capable of cutting and removing the fallen trees, filling the large craters left by the uprooted tree roots, and hauling away slash and brush left from storm damage in early 2006. The town is asking local contractors for estimates on how much the work will cost.

Swart said he and Town Forester Bill Olsen hope that sale of the downed logs will offset part of the cost of clearing debris and filling the craters. They yet have no idea of how much the damage will total.

“We don’t know yet," Swart said, "probably many thousands not in the budget.”

The town’s total 2007 budget for Erickson and Strong Park is $23,250, most of which goes for fixed costs like insurance, utilities, mowing, supplies, and routine maintenance.

“I have two concerns beyond the costs,” Swart said. “First is safety. Short term, we will put up fencing around the holes and warn people away from the worst areas. Then, once the ground firms up enough for tractors and large trucks, we’ll close the park until crews can clear the brush and fill the craters. We should reopen by late Spring.

"Long term, we want to bring in a professional arborist to give us an objective assessment of the safety and viability of the trees still standing, and what should be done to re-forest. The town has a duty to protect the public’s safety, while promoting good park and forestry management.”

Town officials will report on progress to the town council at its regular meeting on February 20, 7 p.m., at the 25 River Street Meeting Room in Cathlamet.

Town of Cathlamet officials are planning to address damage which Erickson Park sustained during the November and December storm events.

Mayor Dick Swart said there was serious damage to over a dozen large and medium-sized trees, to fencing along the ball fields, and to the footpaths in the woods.

Torrential rains in November soaked the park grounds, he said, and two wind storm events toppled and uprooted many trees. An undetermined number sustained varying degrees of damage due to the wind, subsequent ice formation and snowfall.

Swart said repairing the storm damage will require experienced loggers with heavy-duty equipment capable of cutting and removing the fallen trees, filling the large craters left by the uprooted tree roots, and hauling away slash and brush left from storm damage in early 2006. The town is asking local contractors for estimates on how much the work will cost.

Swart said he and Town Forester Bill Olsen hope that sale of the downed logs will offset part of the cost of clearing debris and filling the craters. They yet have no idea of how much the damage will total.

“We don’t know yet," Swart said, "probably many thousands not in the budget.”

The town’s total 2007 budget for Erickson and Strong Park is $23,250, most of which goes for fixed costs like insurance, utilities, mowing, supplies, and routine maintenance.

“I have two concerns beyond the costs,” Swart said. “First is safety. Short term, we will put up fencing around the holes and warn people away from the worst areas. Then, once the ground firms up enough for tractors and large trucks, we’ll close the park until crews can clear the brush and fill the craters. We should reopen by late Spring.

"Long term, we want to bring in a professional arborist to give us an objective assessment of the safety and viability of the trees still standing, and what should be done to re-forest. The town has a duty to protect the public’s safety, while promoting good park and forestry management.”

Town officials will report on progress to the town council at its regular meeting on February 20, 7 p.m., at the 25 River Street Meeting Room in Cathlamet.