Stakeholders vote on top three priority projects at Port's planning meeting

DAYTON—Each year in December, the Port of Columbia holds its Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) meeting for stakeholders in the community to review and update an ongoing five and ten-year project list, cast ballots for the three projects each of them deem most important for the community, listen to guest speakers about progress on current projects, and learn about specific economic indicators for Columbia County.

This year, stakeholders voted for their top three project priorities in the following order:

1. Affordable, workforce, senior, and mixed-use housing.

2. Touchet Valley Trail and walking paths.

3. Pool, community or event center.

The top three were followed by education, workforce training, and internships.

The spotlight at this year’s meeting was on the City of Dayton’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.

Jake Hollopeter, Project Manager and Engineer with Anderson-Perry & Associates, said a purchase and sales agreement is in place for a property located 2.5 miles west of Dayton, at approximately Rose Gulch Road, south of Hwy. 12. The goal is to build a new mechanical wastewater treatment facility and constructed wetlands there.

The city would treat wastewater at this facility, which will aerate, settle, and fully disinfect incoming wastewater, after which it will go through a series of polished wetlands to infiltrate into the shallow groundwater.

“It has to meet groundwater standards, with no degradation to the area groundwater,” said Hollopeter.

The city has had the site surveyed, and groundwater sampling is taking place. Data has been sent to the Dept. of Ecology for review and analysis. Groundwater monitoring wells are being installed. A conceptual design of the transmission pipeline has been completed and talks with the Port of Columbia on licensing are ongoing. A cultural study, the Phase I environmental study, and a wetland determination investigation have all been completed. A hydrology study and updated engineering report are yet to be done.

He said the next hurdle will take place at a public hearing on Dec. 12 when a Columbia County Hearing Examiner reviews the Conditional Use Permit application.

Executive Director of the Port of Columbia Jennie Dickinson spoke to last year’s top-voted priority projects.

The number one top priority for stakeholders who attended last year’s CEDS meeting was a Park and Recreation District and Pool. In the November 2023 General Election, voters approved the formation of the district and elected five members from the community to serve on the board.

Dianne McKinley, one of the five board members, spoke on the project’s progress. She said there are many hurdles to overcome before a community pool is a reality.

First, the county commissioners will need to pass a resolution forming the district. And because the board is its own municipal corporation, legal representation is required. The board must hire a bookkeeper, elect a chairperson, set the time and place for public meetings, and develop policies, procedures, and bylaws. The new board also owes the county $7,000 for placing the proposition on the ballot, money they have yet to identify.

McKinley said the goal is to seek grants for building the swimming facility. The board will create a budget each year and run a special excise levy to pay for pool operation and maintenance. 2024 is the earliest a levy can be on the ballot. The levy is limited to twenty cents per thousand.

Columbia County Health System (CCHS) CEO Shane McGuire addressed the number two top-voted priority: affordable senior and assisted living housing. He talked about progress at the new assisted living facility, Rivers Walk, located just north of Dayton General Hospital.

Currently, three of the four assisted living cottages are housing residents. Each had a 90 percent occupancy rate within a few weeks of opening. Cottage D needs two more staff members before its doors can open.

“Our project goals were to increase access, make services sustainable financially, and prepare for future growth of the aging population,” said McGuire.

He also spoke about the number three top-voted priority for an early learning and childcare center. CCHS is constructing a new childcare center in Hall 1 that once housed Booker Rest home on the Dayton General Hospital campus. The Walla Walla YWCA will run the center and has opened a waiting list.

RoseMary’s Place is slated to open in April next year, serving eight infants, thirteen toddlers, and nineteen preschoolers in three classrooms. Depending on community needs, a fourth classroom can serve four infants, seven toddlers, or ten preschoolers.

McGuire highlighted the importance of the four pillars of healthcare: stable housing, adequate and robust nutrition, social connectivity, and access to physical and mental health services.

“We will provide all of these things within the infrastructure we are building,” he said.

There was a virtual tie for the number three top-voted priority, including Broadband service.

Dickinson said the Dayton Community Broadband project is 100 percent complete as of Nov. 30, and roughly half of all customers in town have been connected through the services of three internet providers. The project came in slightly under budget.

Work started in October on the Touchet Valley Broadband Project, extending fiber from the City of Dayton west six miles along Hwy. 12 to 60 properties, including a cell tower and the state park. That project should be completed by January 31, 2024.

There are still 749 premises in the county where long spaces, high hills, and deep valleys make them difficult to serve.

She said extending fiber up the North Touchet, South Touchet, and Wolf Fork Roads makes sense where fiber is already partially installed. But, there is no market case for extending the cable fiber service to many customers.

She said she had contacted the state about subsidizing Starlink, a satellite internet service, for some customers. The Port will continue to determine how best to reach sparsely populated areas in the county’s more rural areas.

Dayton Chamber Manager Belinda Larson discussed the importance of the Dayton Development Task Force efforts on Main Street. This year, façade improvements totaling a little over $50,000 came about through those efforts.

She touched on other improvements on Main Street and the importance of the Main Street Tax Credit incentive program.

“Those dollars create funding for change and growth.”The Chamber continues to work with organizations like the Dayton Kiwanis Club and sponsors annual events, including All Wheels Weekend, Ladies Night Out, and Christmas Kickoff.

She noted that All Wheels Weekend will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary next year.

At the end of the meeting, Dickinson shared some important economic indicators for the county, which the Port will post on its website.

Dickinson shared that employment numbers remain strong. The unemployment rate is historically low, below full employment, meaning businesses struggle to fill job openings. For instance, the Dayton Mercantile recently closed the Subway shop inside the store because they couldn’t find people to work.

She said an increase in housing inventory is needed so the community can remain affordable, attract new people, and enhance the workforce.

Although there are several businesses for sale on Main Street, she said the economy seems to be stable.

Dickinson also pointed out the importance of tourism dollars to the economic health of the community.

This year’s CEDS meeting generated more interest than in past years, with fifty-six people attending.