The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - Recent developments on Blue Mountain Station and infrastructure plans were discussed along with other five- and ten-year plans for economic growth at the first part of Dayton's Economic Development Steering Committee annual review meeting Wednesday, Dec. 19.

The committee dis- cussed accomplishments and coming projects to help promote Dayton tourism and encourage more new businesses to settle into the area.

During the review, sev- eral infrastructure plans took the forefront, promising improvements to come and for the city to look forward to.

Port of Columbia Manager Jennie Dickinson said the Blue Mountain Station will be a major piece for the planning committee to check off of the long-term list next year. Dickinson said the station ran into issues with the sewage system, originally struggling because the location was unable to connect to the city's sewage line. Dick- inson said the engineer- ing firm Anderson Perry & Associates was able to find a way to con- nect the site to the city's septic line, although the design and construction of the line will cost about $150,000 outside what Dickinson has requested and received for the proj- ect. A temporary septic system could be installed in the interim, but Dick- inson said she didn't want to spend money on a system that would only be temporary. Dickinson said she will be seeking grants to fund this facet of the project.

The project recently confirmed three tenants, Gypsy Girl Granola, Big Kahuna Ltd and Grass Roots Goats.

Columbia County Commissioner Dwight Robanske established several upcoming infra- structure changes for the Columbia County Fair- grounds.

The fairground facili- ties plan will move from a five-year plan to a ten- year plan and will now in- clude a sprinkler system for the Touchet Valley Golf Course, Robanske said.

The youth building at the fairgrounds also falls into the ten-year plan. Robanske said the youth building and sprinkler system designs have been done but funding and implementation will the challenge.

The committee will continue discussion dur- ing part two of the review meeting on Jan. 25.