Workshop focuses on annexation process

The council and planning commission of the Town of Cathlamet held a workshop on annexation processes last Monday night.

T.J. Keirnan, a planning consultant from the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Council of Governments, reviewed one method of annexation and recommended the council and planning commission continue to develop an annexation handbook outlining procedure.

About 16 month ago, some Rosedale business owners asked the town to consider annexing land bordered by SR 4, Jacobson Road and Columbia Street. That request was eventually referred to the town planning commission. The proponents later reduced the size of the proposed annexation to just certain properties, and leading proponent Diane Knutzen said Monday she had finally withdrawn the proposal in 2006.

Kiernan presented an evaluation of seven different methods of annexation and commented that the 75 Percent Petition Method may be the most efficient for the town.

The method can be accomplished in good time, and it doesn’t require the expense or legalities of an election.

Kiernan also outlined an evaluation process that should determine whether or not the annexation would have a beneficial economic impact.

Although there was no action on the initial request, the town is close to having a workable process for handling annexation requests, Keirnan said.

“The petition I reviewed was not in a format to follow state law,” he commented.