Land and money changing hands

DAYTON–The monthly report on Port assets was provided by Executive Manager Jennie Dickinson during the April 12 Port of Columbia meeting. For Rock Hill Industrial Park, the Commission heard from the General Manager of Columbia County Public Transportation David Ocampo who came with a request to purchase their facility that was constructed for their use. Dickinson said they would continue the discussion, review the financials, and request an appraisal of the property.

For Lyons Ferry, they have conducted the required annual testing that was submitted to the Corps of Engineers. A draft study for the addition of pull-through sites at the KOA has been prepared by Anderson Perry with favorable findings. The pull-through sites are a new requirement to remain a KOA Campground. Dickinson has requested of Anderson Perry an estimate for two construction drawings they can use when they put out for bid. One is for a new upland restroom and the other is for the pull-through spaces. She asked they be ready by June for the onsite Commission meeting.

the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) granted $50,000 for a feasibility study to develop a craft malt and grain business cluster at Blue Mountain Station. Dickinson presented to the Commissioners for their approval a contract with a consulting firm to conduct the study contingent on the receipt of the CERB funds. They authorized Dickinson to sign the contract.

A recent meeting was held to coordinate utility placement with the City of Dayton, surveyors from Anderson Perry and the broadband fiber contractors from Zero dB. The City plans to request the placement of a sewer line in the rail right-of-way to extend three miles west of town to the proposed property for the City’s Wastewater Treatment Project.

The survey of the land parcel adjacent to the rail at Seneca has been completed and Dickinson met with Northwest Grain Growers who has requested to purchase it. The sale is being finalized and the money from the sale will be used to pay the match for grant funds. Also, she informed the Commission of current state legislation that if passed may provide tax credits for short lines which would give Port Districts a sales and use tax deferral for such things as the purchase of equipment to work on the rail line. Rail owners would be given a sales and use tax credit or a public utility tax credit.

Dickinson reported a local company is wanting to expand their business and would like to consider building on Port property. She also said she is considering sending out a survey to local businesses about what assistance could be helpful for their success. She noted that some are having trouble being fully staffed.

There is a delay of some of the materials to fully build the colocation building for the Dayton Community portion of the broadband project, but construction will begin on it. For the Touchet Valley project extending the broadband west of Dayton, Dickinson asked approval and the Commission voted in favor of a hiring Petrichor as the construction management firm that would also provide technical support and mapping services. She added that Petrichor or NoaNet would likely be the companies they would choose from to contract with for operations and maintenance of the broadband system once built.

Finally, for the Rural Broadband project the initial work will be in areas that are more populated like Starbuck and on the Tucannon before the work would expand to individual properties. Connecting every residence in the County is unlikely because of the expense of building on the local topography. Currently, the Broadband Action Team is doing some initial investigating of service options.

Also, the broadband expansion program at WSU is appropriating state and federal funding for every county for work done towards this effort. The County authorized the Port to receive $59,000 in funds which was also approved by the Commission during the meeting.

During public comment, three attendees voiced support of the Port selling the rail line to the Columbia Walla Walla Rail operator Paul Didelius who was present at the meeting. He currently leases the short line and has requested to purchase it from the Port. One commenter added the condition of his support is that it be sold at a good price and be good for the community.