Members of Cathlamet's town council discussed the need to replace intake pumps at the town's water treatment plant when the council convened January 25 to hold a meeting postponed from January 17 because of bad weather.

In other business, council members approved a three year lease for new quarters for the town clerks' office.

Public Works Superintendent David Vik asked the council to consider amending the 2013 budget to permit replacement of pumps at the town water plant. The project should cost no more than $16,000, he said.

Councilmember Dick Swart moved to approve the budget amendment, and Bob Rendler seconded the motion.

Vik said the pumps are showing signs of age. As bearings wear, there is a reduction in pumping capacity, he said.

In response to questions from the council, Vik said the pumps could fail soon, or they could keep operating for several years.

"How did this not get in the budget," Swart asked.

Vik replied that he had mentioned the work at the council's initial budget workshop in 2011. He was out of town when the council finance committee modified the original budget request, and that he didn't see the omission until December. Discussion of the issue wasn't included on the agenda of the December meeting. "Without my approval," Vik said.

Swart commented that the town needs a better process for monitoring the pumps and other equipment and getting them replaced in a timely fashion.

"Our discussions focused on detail," Wehrfritz said. "We've talked about it at meetings, but we haven't reviewed the long term water plan. Your criticisms are valid."

Rendler, a former mayor, commented that the council doesn't want to let the pumps fail. That happened in 1997, he said, and the result was chaos.

In further discussion, councilmembers said they had several questions about pump size, capacity and cost that weren't answered.

Swart withdrew his motion. The council hadn't received clear information to justify amending the budget, he said, and Rendler withdrew his second.

The matter may go to the council's finance committee for further evaluation.

The town is planning to have a major remodel of the Town Hall this year. The library upstairs will be refurbished. Downstairs, the old fire hall will be turned into a community center, and the town offices will be converted into an archive. This means the clerks will need new quarters for their office.

The town signed a lease for rooms across the street from Town Hall in the Scarborough Building.

The town will lease the suites for three years, with an option to extend the lease. Rent will be $400 per month in 2012 and 2013 and $425 in 2014.

Councilmember Dick Swart said he had been dissatisfied with the initial proposed lease. The latest version had been changed, he was now happy with it, he said. He moved to sign the lease, and the motion passed.

Wehrfritz said staff will begin the move after the February 21 council meeting. They should be installed by March 1, he said.