Port signs new lease for new Lyons Ferry Marina

DAYTON — The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting at 5 p.m. on April 8, 2026. Commissioners Mike Spring, Johnny Watts, and Scott Hudson were present in the Port’s conference room, with Executive Director Jennie Dickinson and Economic Development Coordinator Shane Laib.

The Board discussed a new law requiring government websites to be ADA-compliant. The Port will need to convert past posts and PDF documents into ADA accessible content. This includes creating text and audio descriptions for graphics and photos. Dickinson is discussing the best path forward with the website designers.

A brief plan was discussed for tackling revisions to the Comprehensive Plan. The commissioners agreed to cover small portions of the plan each month rather than reviewing it all at once. The review of the Comprehensive Plan is not required; however, the commissioners decided it was advisable, as it has not been reviewed since 2021.

Joining on Zoom were Lyons Ferry Marina concessionaire Joanne Knouf and Corey Baker, who is purchasing the Concessionaire rights for Lyons Ferry under Starbuck Washington KOA, LLC. The commissioners signed a new lease, required to seal the deal.  The new lease takes effect on May 1, 2026. 

Knouf said her crew was hitting the ground running every day. She is going through a list of projects that shows her pride in running the facility over the last ten years. 

The new owner, Baker, is a First Nations person who lives in British Columbia, Canada. He works in construction in both Canada and the United States. His First Nation status allows him to work in the U.S. Baker said he would visit Lyons Ferry frequently and that an asset manager from Denver would also visit the property often.

Dickinson said the Mainstem Malt project is progressing on target.

The Port and the railroad operator are still finalizing the new lease agreement. No signing date has been set yet.

Laib said the new laundromat in Dayton will be operational soon, and a ribbon-cutting grand opening is scheduled for the All Wheels Weekend.

Laib said there were three events scheduled for April 18, 2026. There will be a walk sponsored by the Blue Mountain Audubon Society, along the levee, possibly to the Lewis and Clark campsite. On the same day is the grand opening for the Blue Mountain Station greenhouse from noon to 3 p.m. 

The third event is the Touchet Valley Community Showcase at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. This year, the event includes a drug take-back and paper shredding event.

At the golf course, Laib said the grab-and-go food option has been replaced by a full-service diner, The Back 9. He shared a preview of the “Choose Columbia County” pamphlet that is close to publication.

Laib said an application for a grant to refurbish the Fairgrounds’ east grandstands was not approved. An estimated $50,000 is needed to make the grandstands usable.

Spring said the trail project between Dayton and Waitsburg should be revisited. He suggested the Dayton Chamber of Commerce or a trail advocacy group, should take the ball and run with it, and then propose their project to the Port. 

The meeting adjourned at about 6:30 p.m.