Broadband, Touchet Valley Trail discussed at August Port meeting

DAYTON—The Port of Columbia Commissioners met Wednesday, August 11, for a regular board meeting.

Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson reported a roughly $10,000 expenditure for an HVAC replacement at one of the Port’s properties.

Dickinson said the Port’s property insurance went up 20% in 2020 and another 20% this year, now totaling $64,000.

“That is disappointing,” Dickinson said. “I have done research into other companies, and I can’t find anything better.”

Dickinson said the Port is on good terms with all tenants, and rents are all current. The Port recently renewed a rental agreement for the 4,500 square foot space at the Blue Mountain Station for one year, at a rate of $1,850 per month.

She was approached by Lodmell Cellars, a Walla Walla-based winery, wishing to rent 521 Cameron Street, formerly Paco’s Custom Coatings. Dickinson said the winery wanted to retain the right to terminate the lease if they cannot obtain industry permitting, including liquor licenses. This is standard in all alcohol-related rental agreements. This specific right to terminate is only valid for the first few months. Lodmell Cellars has partnered with Red Band Cellars, at Blue Mountain Station, in the past.

During a report on Port Assets, Dickinson said that she had received a proposal from Anderson Perry & Associates for engineering and design work for pull-through RV sites at the Lyons Ferry Marina, required by Kampgrounds of America (KOA) to continue to brand as a KOA.

Dickinson shared there would be a lot of ‘dirt work’ required due to the location of the proposed pull-through sites. The design included details regarding an upland bathroom near the campsites. Anderson Perry & Associates requested a time and materials basis agreement not to exceed $13,000. Dickinson said it was higher than the amount she had expected. There is a lot of work needed to make the project a reality.

Dickinson shared that Port of Columbia was awarded a $2 million grant from Washington State Community and Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) for the ongoing broadband project. There are contract requirements, said Dickinson, and recipients have six months to meet those requirements.

“We do not want to wait that long,” she said. “People here are desperate for better service.”

Contract requirements include a statement regarding permitting and clearance showing that permitting is in process, a franchise agreement with Columbia County and the City of Dayton, a finalized budget, a competed scope of work, and evidence of secured matching funds.

Dickinson attended a Columbia County Commissioners meeting, asking for a $100,000 match from the county. She said that she did not get an answer, but interest was expressed.

One concern that emerged at the meeting regarded federal funds matching federal funds. During a meeting with Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers, her aides clarified that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that the cities and counties of Washington State received may be used as matching funds.

“Because the ARPA funds that CERB received have gone to the state, and it has been made as a state grant, the ARPA funds that cities and counties received can be paired together and used as a match,” Dickinson said. She went on to say that she is currently trying to secure that assurance in writing. The City of Dayton approved a $335,000 ARPA fund match at the August 11 meeting. The project will give more than 1,200 Columbia County and City of Dayton households access to reliable, high-speed internet.

“I hope that our local governments understand that this is a once-in-a-long time opportunity,” Dickinson said.

A flyer regarding the Touchet Valley Trail went around to households of Columbia County.

“The Port did not send that out. It did not have our name on it,” Dickinson said. “A lot of people think we sent it.”

Commissioner Sean Brown said that he has spoken with the responsible parties and emphasized that it must be clear where mailers come from in the future, and he believes the message was received.

“I would hope that the community would know that we (the Port) would never send anything out without our names on it,” Dickinson said. “I would never send anything out without the commissioner’s approval.”

The commissioners exited the regular meeting for executive sessions to discuss real estate and to evaluate personnel. The meeting adjourned after the session.