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

The Cathlamet Town Council on Monday adopted an ordinance setting increases in rates for customers of the town.

The council also worked with Mayor Dick Swart to facilitate the start of a street improvement project this summer on Broadway Street.

The sewer rate increases of $5 per month take effect July 1. On January 1, 2008, rates will increase another $5 per month, and they’ll go up again $5 per month on January 1, 2009.

The increases should allow the town to build a reserve of around $500,000 that can be used as the town’s match for state or federal funds to construct a new sewer treatment plant.

Rates for customers inside the city limits will increase from $25 per month to $40 per month over the 2.5 years; rates for customers outside the city limits will increase from $43 per month to $58 per month.

The town had one bid for the Broadway Street Project, and the council accepted it.

The company, Tapani Underground, bid $452,023 for the project, which was over the engineer’s estimate of $384,485.

The company was the successful bidder on the River Street improvement project which was completed last year.

Swart added that the state funding source has increased the allocation for the project so that lighting may be included in the work.

Swart said the contractor should be ready to go to work in mid-July. The contract calls for 45 working days to complete.