Port subject of federal audit

DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Director Jennie Dickinson advised the Port Commissioners the entity will undergo a federal financial audit in September. This will be the first federal audit during Dickinson's tenure as executive director.

Dickinson has done many state audits before but wanted to let the Commissioners know what to expect from the federal audit. She has started gathering the information that has been requested so that she is ready when they meet in September.

She has also begun work on the next year's budget to present at the September meeting. Dayton resident Dave Harvey suggested incorporating a raise for the Port staff in the upcoming budget. "One item I thought was ridiculously low this year was your employee raises," he said. "I would think and hope that you very strongly consider better compensation to the employees here. They are doing an awesome job. What was 3% last year was a joke."

In other business, Rock Hill Industrial Park is doing well and the lighting project is approximately 60 percent complete, according to Dickinson. They have also replaced one of the units HVAC systems that was very old.

The Mainstem Malt project is still moving forward. Dickinson and CEO Phil Neumann have started interviewing architects and engineers and have sent out requests for proposals from two of them. Dickinson is working with Phil to work on his end of the financial burden for construction funding so they can be approved for the load.

The Port hosted the annual Foodstock event at Blue Mountain Station which went well, but the event was on Alumni weekend, and the weather conditions were very hot for customers and vendors. Because of the weather they are contemplating moving the event to a different weekend in hopes for milder temperatures.

Dickinson has resubmitted the application for a grant to help Lyons Ferry Marina upgrade its facilities. She is scheduled to present to the board again on August 28 and is excited for the opportunity to present again. The feedback she received previously was good. The program is very competitive but Dickinson remains hopeful. She also reported the new concessionaires are doing great and the transition was smooth.