Commissioner Crowe assumes Chair of Port

DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners appointed Genie Crowe, District No. 2, as board chair; approved the release of $3250 to the Friends of the Dayton Community Pool, and the $2 million broadband CERB grant contract and the Pacificorp pole agreement at the December 8 meeting.

This marked the last Port meeting for appointed interim Commissioners, Chairman Shawn Brown, District 1, and Sean Milligan, District 3, before the newly elected Commissioners Seth Bryan, District 1 and Johnny Watts, District 3 are sworn into office at the next meeting in January, 2022. In addition, to remain in compliance with policy of electing officers on odd years, Crowe was appointed to the chair position being vacated by Brown. Crowe was appointed to the late Earl Marvin's board position in October 2021 for the remainder of the two-year term ending 2022.

The board approved to release $3250 of the remaining Port budget to the Friends of the Dayton Community Pool for the feasibility study.

Friends of the Dayton Community Pool Representative Vicki Zoller appealed to the Port to contribute funds towards a feasibility study for forming a Parks and Recreation District in Dayton. Other local entities such as the City of Dayton and other community partners will also be asked to contribute.

Zoller said the goal of the forming the new district would be to for operations and maintenance of the pool and parks, particularly improvements to the sports fields and offering activities for the youth and adults through increased property taxes. Doing the study will provide the information needed about the benefits and cost of forming a district to share at public meetings, and signatures of support will be sought to get the district on the ballot for the next election in November.

The Friends of the Dayton Community Pool will be contributing $10,000 towards the $30,000 needed for the first portion of the study, and she asked the Port for $5000 or any amount they could give. Completing the study will help to obtain funding namely from USDA Rural Development and the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office for the building of the pool facility.

Dickinson stated that in the 2021 budget there remains $3250 from the Community Support line item and suggested they could give that money. The Commissioners supported the release of funds as long as there is no other use for the money. "I understand what Vicki is saying about how you need to generate the information necessary to even make good decisions down the road," said Milligan. "I think if we want the voters to make a good decision about forming a Parks and Rec district, we need to provide them with the information, they need to be informed about it. I'm not opposed to– if we don't have any other use for the money this year, which it sounds like we don't...and I'm not hearing anything else being proposed today. That would just be money that's not spent this year. I'm okay with using it for that."

The Port asked Zoller to provide progress updates to the board.

The $2 million broadband grant contract from the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) and pole agreement with Pacificorp were both presented for approval to the Commissioners. Also, presented for approval was the Request for Proposal for the design of the broadband project and an agreement with Petrichor Municipal Corporation of Ports including Whitman, Kalama, Ridgefield, Bellingham, Skagit and Pasco) for which "money was built into this grant to pay for oversight [and mapping] by Petrichor for this project," said Dickinson. The contract for the grant required the full matching funds to be covered. Presently, the Port is waiting on the County to determine if they can provide the remaining $96,500. If they don't, Dickinson said she would pursue other funding or the Port would be required to provide the remainder. All contracts and agreements were approved.

Dickinson disclosed that 61 attended the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy meeting and 35 voted for their top priorities for the community which included broadband, housing, and childcare center. Also discussed at the meeting were three possibilities for the Touchet Valley Trail in town where the design is facing complications. Those present were in favor of the trail running along Main Street to avoid the congested area along Commercial Street west of the Touchet River. The trail design is on track to be 90% completed by July, and property ownership documentation has been reviewed and the survey for the railroad right of way will be put into a document that will be provided before then.

It was discussed that the Dayton City Council's Main Street Safety Plan will have some bearing on the final design to slow traffic on Main Street with room for bicyclists. Dickinson specified that those passing through Dayton presently use the two lanes when entering city limits to pass vehicles at a higher speed.

Other updates Dickinson provided were on the Port assets including two lease renewals for the Blue Mountain Station Cooperative and Bard and Bee Meadery and one new lease by Ray Studio at the Rock Hill Industrial Park.

Dickinson informed the Commissioners about the receipt of a bid for a new roof for the Port Main Office Building which has been leaking despite having been repaired. The bid came in high from Gillespie Roofing and the Commissioners thought other bids should be sought that should also include the replacement of the skylights.

Also, the Lyons Ferry Marina KOA continues to pursue adding some pull-through RV sites according to Dickinson. The only railroad update was the owners of the trailer that was placed in the right-or-way along the tracks in town have agreed to move it.

An update was given on the pursuit of establishing a childcare facility. The grant has been submitted for the facility by the group working on the project and the location is still being considered.

Future meetings were also discussed between Dickinson and Crowe. To accommodate the schedules of the incoming new Commissioners, meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. The Fire Marshall determined that the maximum occupancy for the Port boardroom is 21, and until the State mask and distancing mandate is lifted, meetings will be held by ZOOM.

Dickinson later expressed her gratitude to the existing Commissioners for their service.

The next meeting will be held by Zoom on January 12 at 5 p.m.