Port of Columbia Commissioners meeting update

DAYTON-Chair of the Board of Commissioners, Earle Marvin, opened the May 12 meeting with public comment. Betty Longren spoke, urging the commissioners to respect all community members and get behind local businesses. She wanted the Port to listen to businesses and those in the community who are against the trail project.

Dayton Chronicle reporter, Melissa Gemmell, asked if the commissioners had any comments they would like to make to those protesting the trail.

Commissioner Sean Milligan answered by saying the port had released numerous formal statements addressing many topics raised by the protestors.

Port Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson presented the Budget report. Income for the month was good, with private revenue from tenants.

Expenditures for the month were low. There was a nonrecurring item for advertising in the three local newspapers to announce the TVT public hearing.

In response to the Letter from the Auditor, Dickinson said the state now requires a voter's pamphlet for elections which will incur an unspecified cost above the $5,000 currently budgeted for the upcoming election.

Discussing the leases, Dickinson said there is a proposed addendum. Jay's Garage would like to take over the secured parking now available after another tenant vacated.

The commissioners discussed the location for the June meeting, originally planned to be held at Lyon's Ferry. Marvin stated that the meeting would most likely be on Zoom due to the state's COVID-19 restrictions.

Reporting on port assets, Dickinson updated the commissioners on the clean-up at a vacated space at the Rock Hill Industrial Park. The tenant did a reasonable job cleaning, though there was still residue from the powder-coating process on the ceiling and walls.

At Lyon's Ferry, the concessionaire business was sold in 2020, and the lease continues to be held by 7 K's Enterprises which Dickenson said is allowable under their terms.

Dickinson said there were no new projects at Blue Mountain Station. The weekend had been busy for Mother's Day, and all the tasting rooms were open for spring release weekend.

The railroad received a grant from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for signal crossings on Highways 12 and 124.

Commissioner Sean Milligan asked about used railroad ties the railway operator is storing next to the track. He was told by a resident that there is legislation in the RCW covering the storage and removal of old ties. The concern is that the ties are hazardous waste material, and the RCW may limit the length of time they can be stored in that manner.

Dickinson asked if the person had cited a specific RCW number or knew how long the ties could be stored beside the track. If there are regulations under the RCW, the port could make the operator comply. Milligan and Dickinson said they would look into the matter.

Reporting on Economic Development, Dickinson said many were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the recently upgraded and improved Main Street Marketplace.

She said Table Rock Meat Co. is doing well since its grand opening. Commissioner Shawn Brown asked if there had been a ribbon-cutting ceremony for that business. Dickinson said they had not, most likely because they were unaware of the possibility. She reminded the commissioners that both businesses received private grants through the port before opening.

Brown commented that he has had several business owners approach him to say how thankful they were to receive grants to help them stay in business through the last year.

Dickinson said $400,000 of grants were approved and distributed to businesses through the port. She noted that while agencies processing these funds were allowed to take a percentage, the Port of Columbia did not, ensuring the businesses received the maximum amount available.

Dickinson reported on an application for a $50,000 grant from the WA State Department of Commerce for marketing efforts to bring visitors back to downtown and the Blue Mountain Station.

Dickinson also reported on the Washington State CERB program application. The program offers low-interest loans and grants to build broadband infrastructure in rural underserved communities linked to community and economic development.

Dickinson said the Port would not be an internet provider or compete with local providers. The project is to provide broadband infrastructure to the area offered for lease to local internet service providers (ISP), including Touchet Valley TV and Pocketinet, to increase the service they offer. The port would receive $20 per user as part of the cost to providers to be used for maintenance and future expansion of the fiber cable. The local ISPs would not have to provide maintenance on the line.

One requirement of the CERB grant is participation by local providers, with at least one ISP who signed on. Dickenson said three of the five local companies have expressed interest in the project.

Dickinson said there were potential savings of $800,000 using the Port of Whitman County's model over model used for the current bid with NoaNet.

The CERB program requires a 20% matching contribution. The Port is applying for the maximum amount of $2 million and would have to come up with 20% of the total project costs. Dickinson said they are working on raising $500,00 for the matching contribution.

Marvin asked if broadband coverage would be extended with these funds. The original study estimates coverage for the city of Dayton and a bit of the outlying area. Starbuck and other rural areas are not covered in this study.

Dickinson described a scenario where fiber cable could be brought to an area and then linked to a wireless router accessible to the homes in the area. This would be more cost-effective than trying to run the cable to individual rural properties.

Dickinson gave an example of bringing broadband to a rural area in the county. Using Turner as the example, she described bringing the fiber cable to a central location in the area, like an elevator, and connecting to a wireless router. This would allow the neighboring homes access to a relatively fast internet connection.

Chairman Marvin asked if there was anything the commissioners could do to help with the CERB application. Dickinson said she would distribute the completed application to the commissioners for comment before it is submitted on May 24.

The commissioners approved Resolution 2021-01, allowing the CERB application to be submitted.

The Working Washington 4.0 grant program has closed, and recipients will be contacted in mid-May and receive their awards by June 30, 2021. Dickinson said 15 local businesses applied. She did not know who is receiving awards yet.

The port is also working with one business on a Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant.

Milligan noted that the Weinhart Café had recently been purchased.

Dickinson said this was an example of the port successfully encouraging new business in the area. Waitsburg chef Daniel Rossi opened CounterFeat, a take-and-bake business using the commercial kitchen at BMS. After a positive reception, the port approached Rossi about the opportunity to purchase the Weinhart Café building and business.

The last agenda item was a review of the April 26, Touchet Valley Trail (TVT) public meeting. Dickinson said there had been many comments and some questions received during the comment period, which was now closed, having been offered from April 26 to May 12. The comments were overwhelmingly positive, and she felt the Port answered most of the questions and concerns.

Milligan asked about the protest held outside the Port building during the TVT public meeting. Dickinson and the commissioners could not see the demonstration since the meeting was held on Zoom and not in person. The sheriff's office notified her about the protest, and one tenant at the industrial park complained the protest negatively impacted their business.

There was information that two demonstrations were planned for before and during the May 12 regular meeting. A group showing support for the trail gathered at the Depot at 2:30 and walked a route through town carrying signs of support for the trail. The other demonstration by those opposed to the trail was planned for 3:30 in front of the port building.

Dickinson voiced the frustration of how she has been personally attacked on social media regarding the trail. She said people opposed to the project don't come to her directly to talk about their issues.

Commissioner Sean Brown said he has met with opponents to the trail; he has listened and encouraged them to submit their comments to the port during the four-week comment period.

Commissioner Milligan said "ditto," and he has also encouraged people to use the public forum.

Dickinson said the concerns of those opposed had been heard by the port.

The meeting went into an executive session before adjourning.