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

The Cathlamet town council authorized on Monday a call for bids for remodeling the town hall building and also passed resolutions closing streets and curtailing parking in this weekend's Cathlamet Downhill Corral longboard festival.

With the council's approval, Mayor George Wehrfritz said the town would call for bids as soon as possible for the town hall project. He hopes to be able to open bids in mid-September, award the contract by the end of the month and have construction going by early October. If all goes well, the work could be done by the end of the year, but it may continue into January, he said.

The project involves remodeling the library in the upper floor and turning the lower floor into a community center and an archive for town records.

Librarian Connie Christopher and several members of the library board urged the council to approve the call for bids. Wahkiakum Community Network Director Lia Sealund, county 4H director Carrie Backman and county Commissioner Lisa Marsyla also urged the council to go forward with the project.

The project is estimated to cost $262,675. Architect Stan Chesshire said his firm would provide alternatives in construction designs that could help save costs.

"We're within our funding capabilities," Wehrfritz said. "I think this is a realistic number."

Christopher presented a budget for the task of moving the library to temporary quarters in the county's River Street Meeting Room. She estimated it will cost $2,350. Volunteers are lining up trucks to move books and shelves. Other volunteers will box and unpack the collection.

"We've had tons of offers to help," Christopher said. "I hope we can pack and move in one day and unpack on day two and be in business the next day."

Ready for longboards

The council passed a resolution closing streets and limiting parking for the coming longboard festival, and it also adopted an ordinance banning swimming off the town dock.

The street closures will be for races to be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, Third and Broadway streets will be closed.

On Saturday, Una and Third streets will be closed.

On Sunday, closures will affect South Second, Spring, Columbia, Main, Broadway and Commercial streets. Residents along the course will be notified that there will be no street parking during the race, and that vehicles could be towed.

Also vendors will be located on River Street on Sunday.

The resolution also provides that race sponsors will provide adequate safeguards for the event.

The council agreed to waive its policy of having at least two readings for new ordinances and passed in a single reading an ordinance banning swimming or diving from the town dock.

During a previous festival, some longboarders rigged a ramp at the foot of Broadway Street so they could sail down the hill and into the river. The resolution cited safety concerns for passing the ordinance.

Conveyance line crossing

Engineer Ken Alexander reported that contractors are moving forward with trenching across SR 4 for conveyance lines for the town's new water plant. Highway traffic will be impacted this week and next by the work and repaving of the highway, with 20 minute traffic closures possible.