The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Port of Columbia Commissioners met at 3:30 p.m. on November 10, 2021, for their monthly meeting on Zoom.

All the current commissioners were in attendance, Shawn Brown, Genie Crowe, Sean Milligan, and the executive director, Jennie Dickinson. At various times, about eight members of the public were in attendance.

The commissioners accepted the minutes of the last meeting without comment.

During the budget report, Dickinson said tenants of the Port's properties are up to date on rent. The Port has received its tax revenue for October and additional tax revenue is expected in December.

The Port received reimbursement from DOT for the bike trail design. Also included in income was an ADO (Associate Development Organization) grant payment, money distributed to economic development contracting agencies within the State.

In general, there was nothing unusual in the Port’s income information. Nothing out of the ordinary for spending outside of a magazine advertisement placed for BMS, and two start-up business grants, which are budget neutral. The budget report was accepted.

The commissioners reviewed the 2022 budget. The Port will end the 2021 year with a beginning cash balance of $225,000 and a reserve of $100,000. Some of the balance is due from the savings from the Port temporarily operating without an economic development coordinator.

The Port projects a total income of $817,865, including $470,00 in tax income for 2022. A large portion of the revenue consists of money received from the Port’s broadband grant.

Dickinson reported that with normal expenses and the broadband infrastructure, the total expenses of the Port should be about $3,368,328. This includes the $2 million for broadband infrastructure to be paid with funds from a previously approved grant, not reflected in the 2022 budget’s projected income totals. The Port should end the year with about a quarter of a million dollars plus cash on hand.

To approve next year’s budget, the Port had first to approve a levy resolution, 2021-02, which increases the Port levy by 1% to be collected, from property taxes, for the year 2022. Milligan moved to accept Resolution 2021-02, seconded by Crowe. The commissioners passed the resolution unanimously. Milligan also moved to accept the proposed 2022 budget, seconded by Crowe, a motion that was passed unanimously.

The Port approved Columbia Pulp for a temporary, three-month lease at 521 Cameron Street for research and development. Steve Martin is spearheading their effort to expand available products from straw pulp and is developing pelletizing soil amendments and animal bedding (such as for a horse barn) as possible Columbia Pulp products. Should the research prove successful, Columbia Pulp would move the new production to a permanent facility.

During COVID, in early 2020, late fees were waived for Port tenants. Currently, the Port has no delinquent tenants, and the commissioners voted to re-impose late fees, as delineated by the tenant leases, starting December 10, 2021.

The Port commissioners took no action to change from holding monthly meetings on Zoom to in-person meetings, primarily due to COVID concerns. Dickinson checked with the Port attorney and learned that the port commissioners could be held personally liable should someone trace their COVID-19 infection to a public meeting where elected officials ignored public safety mandates.

Dickinson reported that the state lease-hold tax audit was completed and found only two discrepancies in the past three years, which necessitated a tax payment of about $211.

There were no significant issues with Port buildings to report. Dickinson reported an upcoming tenant change. Boe Stevenson intends to depart his space at the port to relocate his print shop, along with Locally Nourished, to the former Village Shoppes on Main Street. Stevenson plans to offer clothing and gear printed to support the Dayton/Waitsburg athletic combine “Wolf-pack” at his new location. He will move out of his current building in November. A local artist plans to lease his former space as a non-retail studio, keeping Port occupancy at100%.

Dickinson reported concerns from tenants and users of the commercial kitchen at Blue Mountain Station (BMS) over recent Facebook postings and candidates’ material from the recent election. They felt their businesses are not valued by the newly elected officials and the community.

Dickinson has assured tenants at BMS that they are legally protected from eviction under terms of their leases. Two tenants have asked for lease extensions.

The discussion moved on to the Columbia-Walla Walla Railroad (CWW) about weed and debris removal. CWW said they cleared debris from their trimming and weed control. They also cleared items dumped by community members, including carpet. A double-wide trailer was abandoned on the CWW right of way near the intersection of Stedman and Wagon Roads and may have to be removed to comply with federal law.

The rail operator wants to continue operating his line to Dayton for grain cargo but needs to have access to Port Kelly to make grain transport cost effective. Some commissioners discussed whether local farmers are still interested in using rail transport since they have already adopted other means of transportation. The Port of Columbia does not own or run Port Kelly so it cannot open it up to the railroad operator.

In her Community and Economic Development report, Dickinson stated that two start-up grants of $5K each had been awarded. One of the grants was awarded to Tony and Laura Aukerman who plan to locate their vintage furniture business in the Main Street building last occupied by Noble Hunt and the adjacent building. Their business will operate as Annie’s Attic and may also have food offerings.

The second start-up grant went to Starbuck Lodge, operated by Deb Hayes and Zonia Dedloff, who will offer cabins and eventually a lodge on the outskirts of Starbuck. The grant money came from Innovia, and the Port has another $5K available for start-ups.

The Port commissioners deferred discussion of the Economic Impact of the Port District document until commissioners have had more time to review it.

It was announced that the Comprehensive Economic Development Meeting would be held on December 7, 2021, from 11:30 to 1 PM on Zoom. The priorities for the meeting are the broadband, bike trail, and assisted living programs.

Dickinson said she was working on a grant to extend the broadband project further west and would be submitting a grant to the state broadband fund.The city has provided matching broadband funds, but the county has not responded, so the Port will begin looking elsewhere for the money to cover what the county was to have provided. The Port and Pacific Corp are working on an insurance plan for the pole attachment agreement.

There is a discussion about moving the bike trail to the south of the railroad track to be less disruptive to the residents on Commercial Street. Anderson Perry is developing options for that portion of the trail along with the pedestrian crossing of the Touchet River near the Smith Hollow schoolhouse.

The Port assisted the Hospital District, YWCA, Early Learning Coalition, and ESD 123 in drafting a proposal for one million dollars to the Department of Commerce to fund a childcare facility.

The initial favored location, the First Christian Church across from the elementary school, would cost $1.9 million, including $400,000 just to shore up the roof. An alternate location may be on Cameron Street and west of the garden area at Blue Mountain Station. The pool and community center group has also shown interest in developing a community center in the vicinity of the old pool building at the city park. The hospital will own the daycare center and the YWCA will operate it. The Port is involved because having daycare available in the community is important to business development in the county.

The next Port Commissioner’s meeting is scheduled for December 8, 2021, via Zoom. The meeting adjourned at 4:50 PM.