Port Commissioners call for Touchet Valley Trail public meeting

DAYTON– Engineering consultant Anderson Perry is close to 30% complete on the Touchet Valley Trail (TVT) design, the Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners were advised, prompting the Board to set in motion plans for a public meeting regarding the TVT in January.

Anderson Perry is working on the design for the Touchet Valley Trail. Dickinson reported they are close to 30% complete on the design but are faced with one place along the rail line where the right-of-way overlaps with the City of Dayton, Port of Columbia and Columbia County, and more research is needed. “They have found no instances in which the Port did not own the property” along the rail line right-of-way, Dickinson said.

The Port plans to have a public meeting in January when the project design is at 30%. Chairman Earle Marvin strongly advocated for an in-person meeting to present the design and not hold it by Zoom, even if such a limitation meant delaying the meeting. Commissioner Sean Milligan thought that choosing a venue that would provide a gathering space large enough for the meeting is possible.

Dickinson questioned the Commissioners about the intentions for the meeting. “The Port of Columbia is the decision maker on what happens with this trail,” she said. “It’s not the county, it’s not a vote, it’s the Port. What are you hoping to accomplish at the public meeting? Is it information sharing? Is it letting people have their say? Is it going to change your mind?”

Chairman Marvin replied that the meeting is for public information, feedback, public opinion, all for consideration about the trail. “What we’ve said at previous Port meetings is we wanted to inform the public and get their feedback, positive or negative, as to the public opinion as to the construction of such a trail,” Marvin said. “After that, we would make a decision on how we wanted to do it or whether we wanted to scrap it...We told the public we would hold a public meeting once Anderson Perry reaches their 30% design point.”

Milligan thought January was a good time to have the meeting, provided the Commissioners had enough time to review the design progress.

Marvin repeated his desire for in-person meeting.

Dickinson pointed out that the broadband meeting by Zoom went well. But Marvin emphasized that most are in favor of the broadband project where many more are in opposition to the trail and thought that the pavilion at the fairgrounds might be available.

Commissioner Shawn Brown mentioned the current limits on public meetings in our State limits attendees to 10 people in Phase 3.

Dickinson proposed taking a “wait and see” approach to the public meeting on the trail to which the Port Commissioners agreed.

In other business, the City has approved to give $38,000 of their CARES funding to the Port to disperse and the Port applied for a broadband grant through the Public Works Board.

The City of Dayton has received additional CARES funding of $38,400 that the City Council has approved to give to the Port to disperse. With this money and the State money, the Port still has $94,000 to grant to qualified businesses. The money given by the City is only to be used by businesses within the City of Dayton, according to Meagan Hayes, Director of Planning and Community of Development.

Applications need to be submitted to the Port by October 30. Three applications have already been submitted with one forthcoming. Dickinson has plans to “get the word out” within the community to those who have not already received money through the Port. The Port Commissioners agreed to approve the amendment to the interlocal agreement with the City of Dayton with the added funds.

The Port has applied for grant funding for its broadband project through the Public Works Board. The Board recently informed the Port that Charter Communications also submitted an application for the grant request for a broadband project for Dayton, Pomeroy and Prescott. They since have withdrawn from Pomeroy because that city has already received funding for its broadband project through the Port of Garfield.

Charter Communications has not followed all of the grant requirements and it could likely jeopardize their candidacy, according to Dickinson. She expressed hopefulness that the Port will be given the funds and it can proceed with the project.

Dickinson reported that the Port is providing some notable maintenance work at Dayton Tractor and Machine, which is in the process of a minor facelift, including the replacement of portions of some of the windows and some repainting. Also, at Lyon’s Ferry, the lower restroom building recently got a new metal roof.

A new business, Bard and Bee Meadary, a mead making company opened at The Blue Mountain Station the weekend of October 10-11 and held a small Oktoberfest with the Co-op providing some food. The business reportedly had a good first day.

The Port of Columbia is schedule to hold a Public Hearing to present the 2021 budget for November 10 at 3:30 p.m. This meeting is planned to be held by Zoom.