Port of Columbia September meeting

DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Commissioners met for a regular meeting on September 8 via Zoom.

The Commissioners appointed Shawn Brown as chairman, filling the position left by the late Earle Marvin.

"I want to reiterate that I so much appreciate Commissioner Marvin's service to the Port, and I have his wife and family in my prayers as they move forward through this difficult time," Brown said.

Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson said that she reached out to Commissioner Marvin's family on behalf of the Port. She shared that there is no service planned at this time due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Port of Columbia is currently seeking applicants for the vacant board seat. Letters of interest and resumes can be submitted to the Port of Columbia via mail, email, or in person. To be eligible to apply, interested individuals must live within District 2 and must be registered voters. Port Commissioner districts are the same as Columbia County Commissioners district boundaries. The commissioner's term will run through December 31, 2022. Information regarding districts can be found on the Port's website, https://www.portofcolumbia.org.

Commissioners hope to interview candidates at the October 13 meeting.

At the August meeting, Commissioner Sean Milligan suggested that the commissioners start meeting in person. Though meeting restrictions had been lifted, Dickinson said she was hesitant to meet in person as the Delta variant continued to infect people. She suggested a product called the Meeting Owl, which looks like an Amazon Alexa device. The product is a speaker, microphone, and 360-degree camera. It allows people to safely meet and provide a remote option for those unable to attend in person. The plan is to have a Meeting Owl and a dedicated mini laptop available for upcoming meetings.

Various maintenance needs, including new locks on an office space, shrubbery trimming, and valve tests, have been ongoing at Port properties at the Rock Hill Industrial Park.

Over Labor Day, Lyons Ferry Marina hosted kid's karaoke in place of the traditional movie night, with Dickinson reporting that it was 'very popular.' Anderson Perry & Associates have been at the marina, beginning the predesign work for pull-through RV sites.

Extra bug-spraying was necessary this last month at Blue Mountain Station. Dickinson reported that they are currently planning for the upcoming Fall Festival, scheduled for October 9. There will be pumpkins for sale and events, including pumpkin painting. Oktoberfest food will be served, and music will be provided by Gary Winston and the Real Deal, a Walla Walla-based band.

The Port of Walla Walla had requested to meet with the Port of Columbia regarding railroad projects, but a date was not set. Dickinson addressed the weeds along the Port's right of way along the railroad tracks. She reported that the weeds had been sprayed, but they did not seem to respond, and that she would work with the railroad operator to have the weeds cleaned up.

Dickinson talked about housing in Columbia County, sharing that the July unemployment rate was the lowest she had ever seen, at 3.9%. She reported that there had been a dramatic increase in wages in the area, but the housing market was very tight, and childcare was still a significant problem for residents.

"It's going to be very difficult to conduct economic development if people don't have a place to live, and people can't find childcare," Dickinson said.

She said that the Port does have land that could potentially be used as a part of the Common Roots Housing, a developing land trust based out of Walla Walla that aims to provide permanently affordable housing to qualifying buyers. Still, she felt that housing within the city would be the best option. Commissioner Milligan said that Port property would be best utilized for a business, such as a childcare center, which would align with the mission of the Port more closely than housing would. Milligan did say that the Port should remain engaged with the housing efforts.

Dickinson shared that the Port's marketing company had thought of a new tagline, "Dayton, Let's Go!" for marketing and tourism purposes, to take the place of the "Discover Dayton" theme previously used. She said that she had asked the Chamber of Commerce if they would be interested in the new tagline, and they were not.

Dickinson gave a brief update on the broadband project, saying she submitted all of the pre-contract requirements, including a statement of permits and clearances, a finalized budget, and a completed scope of work. Now, she is working on a pole attachment agreement with PacifiCorps (Pacific Power). She said that the Port will have to 'make ready' poles, or replace poles in need that are related to the project, which is included in the budget.

Dickinson said that the Port has secured all but $96,500 in matching funds, and she was able to get confirmation from the National Association of Counties that ARPA funds can be used to match the grant. That information has been sent on to Columbia County officials. The City of Dayton approved matching funds last month, and Dickinson is optimistic about a match from the County. Dickinson asked Columbia County for roughly $100,000 in matching funds. She said she will reach out to local organizations, including Wildhorse Foundation, Innovia Foundation, Warren Foundation, or the Blue Mountain Community Foundation, and possibly the Port of Columbia for matching funds if necessary.

The broadband project will eventually be expanded to include a larger portion of Columbia County, stretching to the county line, including Huntsville. At least one internet provider partner has agreed to offer service with the expansion.

"There are a lot of homes along Highway 12, and the population is fairly dense," Dickinson said. She said that she will move forward with exploring details.