Does the Cathlamet town council want to proceed with development of Queen Sally Park and community center?

Mayor George Wehrfritz has scheduled a special meeting of the council August 2, 7 p.m., to seek a definitive vote on that issue.

Plans to develop the park and community center evolved out of community meetings and a project to refurbish town hall. In two meetings, citizens and council members offered ideas and concepts for developing the park and community center involving town hall, the Pioneer Church Community Center, and a vacant, town-owned lot adjacent to the town hall parking lot.

The result, compiled and designed by Oregon-based Architects Without Borders, put a community center in the ground floor of town hall, improvements to the town offices and library, a park and amphitheater in the present parking lot and vacant lot, improvements to the trail linking the area to Angle Street, a water course to handle ground water in the hillside, and use of the Pioneer Church as an activity center.

The proposal also calls for development of new parking on land owned by Town Attorney Tom Doumit and Council Ruth Doumit, a cousin. Tom Doumit volunteered to work with the town on a long term agreement for a parking area, and Ruth Doumit said she would allow a similar arrangement with her family's land. The proposed design would yield 10-14 parking spaces and an additional two meeting the standards in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Based on the public support and council approval earlier this year, the town has started applying for grants to cover project costs.

At the council's July 19 meeting, however, Councilor Wally Wright asked for reconsideration of the proposal.

He said he was concerned that parking spaces would be lost, and that development of new parking areas could make the hillside unstable.

Wright added that his late mother, who owned the house adjacent to the vacant lot, had donated $10,000 to the town for purchase and development of the lot as a parking lot.

If that isn't going to occur, Wright said, the heirs, including him, may ask for a refund of the donation.

Council members voted 3-1 at that July 19 meeting to authorize the mayor to apply to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for funds to develop the park. Wright voted against it; Goodroe, Ruth Doumit and Bob Rendler voted for it. Councilor Steve McNicholas was excused.

Several councilors echoed Wright's concern about the adequacy of parking and the stability of the hillside and suggested the proposal be reviewed.

Wehrfritz said this Tuesday that he called for the meeting to seek a definitive vote on the council's desire whether or not to proceed with the project.

"In my view, the plan reflects the wishes, hopes and aspirations of our community," he told The Eagle.

"I would like nothing better than to move ahead with the project, but only if we are fully committed. The RCO grant process is extremely competitive. And once the project is awarded RCO funding, our plan requires significant matching funds, donated materials and labor, and a lot of hard work from the town’s employees.

"I believe Cathlamet is up to this challenge, and that the project could serve as a catalyst for our town’s commercial revival.

"I hope the council shares that belief. But if it doesn’t, now is the time to indicate its objections and set policy accordingly."