Port approves land sale to Table Rock Meat Co.

DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on January 11, 2023, at the Port of Columbia conference room and on Zoom. Commissioners present were Genie Crowe, Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, and the Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson. Members of the public attended using Zoom and in person.

The Commissioners first dealt with several administrative items and were briefed by Dickinson on the status of the State audit and the year-end financials.

Dickinson gave a brief background on the proposed property sale to Table Rock Meat Co. She said the company first contacted the Port in August 2020. The Port directed the owners to Paul Bowen at The Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for help developing a business plan. The Port also referred the company to a grant writer to help the company apply for USDA grants.

The Port properties were considered after the company struggled to find a suitable location with utilities and appropriate zoning. Lots U and V are on Cameron St. in a fringe commercial zone. Dickinson said the city’s zoning would allow the proposed use by Table Rock.

In June 2021, an appraisal was completed by the Port. After receiving funds from a USDA grant, the company contacted the Port to move forward with the sale.

At the last commissioner meetings in 2022, the Port continued its research into the proposed sale. A second appraisal and market analysis were completed, and the public meeting was scheduled.

A draft resolution, copies of the appraisals, maps, and other information are available online at https://tinyurl.com/tablerocksale. The Director said the hearing was to discuss the sale and information in the online packet. She reminded attendees that the resolution included in the packet was only a draft and the commissioners had made no decisions.

Crowe opened the comment period for the public hearing.

Scott Marinella said, “The sale is not in the best interest of the district or the people there of.“

He felt there had been a significant lack of due diligence on the part of the Port. His concerns included the number of animals to be processed, zoning, impact to the city’s wastewater plant, and odor.

Referencing the business plan submitted by Table Rock Meat Co., Marinella said there was a significant difference between the planned animal units to be processed annually and what the plan identified as the “trending” number of animals to be rendered.

Dickinson explained the plan uses animal units which refer to 1,000 lbs average weight; a cow is one unit. An animal unit can consist of several pigs, goats, or other smaller animals.

Two other commenters were concerned with odor and other issues surrounding animal handling and slaughter in city limits.

Resident Alison Warren said she was completely opposed to the sale. She said she wants Table Rock’s plan to succeed but not in the city limits.

She disagreed with the commissioners’ decision last year to turn down a childcare center when there was a big need in the community. She said the center would have allowed many people to get back into the work force, more would be hired by the meat processing facility.

Someone questioned why Blue Mountain Station had not been considered. Dickinson said that the development agreement with the city excludes meat processing plants at BMS. She expressed surprise that the fringe commercial zone would allow it, but not at BMS. She said the city is the permitting agency and would most likely require a site development plan from the business.

Michele Shoun and Sierra Smith addressed many of the concerns, describing the site design, waste handling, animal control, and working with USDA guidelines.

The Commissioners decided to postpone the vote on approving the resolution for the sale until the Port attorney can be consulted on changes. They are investigating adding covenants to the contract to ameliorate citizen and Port concerns, including odor.

Crowe closed the hearing and thanked the participants.

Dickinson introduced Kara Riebold from Petrichor Broadband, Mark Kennedy and Zach Pullman from Zero dB who joined the meeting on Zoom.

The Commissioners accepted the bid from Zero dB Communications to construct the Broadband Project for $2,039,871.20.

Dickinson was concerned about the Charter franchise agreement with the city. Charter will install broadband for its service and will not use the Port’s network. Zero dB had concerns over the two companies working on poles at the same time for installation. The representatives wanted to avoid confusion, finger pointing, and delays. Dickinson said she had shared the concerns with city.

The Port scheduled a public meeting on the Broadband Project for January 26, 2023, at 6 p.m. Dickinson wanted to make sure that every household receives invitation mailers.

The Commissioners select the Chair and Secretary in odd numbered years. Crowe offered to continue as Chair. Watts nominated Bryan, who was elected Chair. Watts stepped down as Secretary and Crowe was elected.

During the Director’s report, Dickinson said Columbia Pulp is still going through the sale process, and they have “good candidates” to purchase the facility. She also reported Dollar General has made a contingent offer on the Ray’s Drive-In property.

The regular meeting adjourned. and went into an hour-long workshop with consultants hired to update the Comprehensive Plan.

UPDATE—At the January 11 public hearing on the sale of property to Table Rock Meat Co., the Commissioners recommended changes to Resolution #2023-01 based on the hearing’s public comment. A motion was approved that further consideration of the resolution would be made with legal review and presented at the regular Commissioner meeting on February 8, 2023.

However, on January 12, following the public hearing, the Port’s legal counsel advised that the Port needed to take action within three business days after the hearing as required by RCW 53.25.130.

The special meeting was held on Tuesday, January 17. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the sale of lots U and V to Table Rock Meat Co. for a meat processing plant. The resolution was amended to include covenants to address citizen concerns about odor and animal handling. The covenants forbid holding an animal for more than 24 hours, feeding animals, or storing food. They also require offal to be refrigerated until picked up for disposal.

Under RCW 53.25.130, an aggrieved party may appeal the commission’s decision by filing an appeal with the Columbia County Superior Court, within twenty days of the entry of the determination. No appeal shall be allowed except on the grounds that the commission’s action was arbitrary, capricious, or unlawful.