New concessionaires at summers end

DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Board Commissioners were advised of Lyons Ferry Marina concessionaire future succession; and updates on Portway properties, Mainstem Malt grant, CWW Railroad appraisal; and graffiti issue.

Lyons Ferry concessionaires Wally and JoAnn Knoufs, plan to retire at the end of this summer which will succeed to Tim and Susan Dewald. "Tim and Susan joined our management team May 1, and we are doing a transition where we are cutting back our hours and they are taking on more and more ownership." said Joanne. The plan is to step away from the business by the end of the summer, then avail themselves as consultants for the new concessionaires. They also indicated they would help where they can if the grant is successful to build the new sites.

The Dewalds have lived in Walla Walla for the past 20 years and spent much of those years visiting the Lyons Ferry Marina. They are excited for the opportunity to continue the progress Joanne and Wally started.

Port Director Jennie Dickinson said there is uncertainty about the RCO grant application. "I did the technical review a few weeks ago and I did not feel good about it." She is not confident that the category they were told to apply for was the correct one. She continues to follow up with the grant manager. This was a practice round, so she will be taking the feedback and revamping her presentation for the August opportunity.

One of the Portway properties needed HVAC work. Commissioner Mike Spring suggested the port consider a service contract that allows for regular maintenance on a schedule instead of only calling when a problem arises. "It might be something we want to consider, because I think in the long run, service tends to save," said Spring. "When you have an emergency, it costs more than just having everything maintained." Dickinson investigated service contracts in the past, but was unable to justify the accrued cost for all Port properties. However, if the commissioners thought it was important, she would consider it again.

The Mainstem Malt was granted their CERB grant and loan package. Dickinson is now working through the list of pre-contract requirements. The commissioners will need to adopt a repayment resolution, and has already published statements of qualifications.

The appraiser for the CWW railroad project is unavailable to finish the process. Director Dickinson contacted a different appraisal firm who will send a proposal. They indicated their interest in attending a meeting to present to the commissioners.

Commissioner Mike Spring brought up complaints and concerns passed on to him by members of the community about rail cars with gang sign gratify being parked on the railway in Prescott and Huntsville. "There is just concern with people in our county, why are we letting them sit there with graffiti, gang related graffiti, when we won't let graffiti in town?"

Director Dickinson said that she would talk to the sheriff's office to find out if any of the graffiti was gang related.