Councilmember makes case for pool, library

During the Monday, March 16 session of Cathlamet Town Council, Councilmember Crystal Baker brought two new items to the agenda regarding both the pool and the library. Addressing the pool first, Crystal Baker said, "Looking at our current situation with the pool, we have two totally different things. We have the condition of the pool and the repairs that need to be made. We don't necessarily have the luxury of just hiring a contractor to come in and do this, but we do have an amazing support system in our town and have active people who participate with the pool." Noting $141,357 was spent on the pool in 2025, and the Town's portion was $91,357, Crystal Baker added that less than $70,000 of the figure was for staff. The council member also noted the Town got $50,000 from the County for the pool, and that amount has decreased to $25,000. Hoping to get volunteers to help with the labor of dealing with rot, as well as putting fences around electrical items, Crystal Baker "guestimated" the amount needed for supplies would be around $12,000.

Sheriff John Mason, who was in attendance at the March 16 meeting, notified Council he had learned to swim in that pool and that he would be a volunteer, if needed. Seeing the $12,000 as "the only way forward with this pool," Crystal Baker asked that a vote be taken to "move $12,000 from reserves into capital funds for pool community beautification." The motion was brought forth, seconded, and voted in favor of unanimously by Council. Following Council's decision, a Swim Pool Advisory Committee was later formed, "reaching out to all County residents for their active support, can-do Wahkiakum attitude, and some of their volunteer time." The committee has three different volunteer groups: the pool clean-up group, the volunteer group, and the social media and fundraising group. The committee's next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, April 14 at 1 p.m. at Town Hall (100 Main Street). Everyone is invited to take part in this committee. For more info, email crystal.baker@townofcathlamet.com.

Moving onto the library, Crystal Baker noted the Town of Cathlamet covers all but $2,000 of library operations. She also mentioned the library's expansions into the western part of Wahkiakum County is impacting all of the County's students as well. Expressing that she would "love for the library to be fully funded," Crystal Baker admitted the Town "doesn't have that option." As a result, she proposed creating a tax district for the library and that she had talked to the County to "get it on the ballot for November." Crystal Baker said, "I want to seek getting a fully funded library that is open enough to service our schools, service our community, and continue expanding and doing the amazing things that they are doing. They are bringing a huge value to this community."

Acknowledging the Town "spends more than it brings in," Crystal Baker noted moving the library off the Town's books and decreasing the Town's costs for the pool gives them "a better chance of balancing its books without losing services to the Town." With Crystal Baker "wanting to get the process started," Councilmember Joe Baker said, "I'm all for it." Councilmember Robert Stowe, however, said he "doesn't want to be forced into any kind of vote that is not his choice." Participating in the meeting via zoom, Stowe said, "I have to be able to vote my conscience the way I think our constituents may want or may not want. I don't want to be forced into an agreement I don't necessarily agree to."

Head of the Library Board Dan Turner, reminding everybody "this is just a discussion," recommended Council vote for a workshop. "When I say workshop, I'm talking about Town Council, Mayor, the library board, the librarian, the county treasurer, the county auditor, the county assessor so we can get all the facts, all the information, so we can agree more or less and talk intelligently," said Turner. "I'm not saying I'm against this. I'm saying we need to work together and work intelligently." Following a brief discussion, it was decided a workshop be held "with a couple of council members representing," after which, it would be brought back to Council. The next session of Cathlamet Town Council takes place Monday, April 20 at 6 p.m. inside Town Hall, located at 100 Main Street in Cathlamet.