Columbia Port approve facility improvements

DAYTON — The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on April 10, 2024. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson met at the port office.

During public comment, Don Hicks, who said he had lived in Dayton for twenty years, asked if there had been any attempt to lower the speed limit to 45 mph by Blue Mountain Station. Dickinson said the port tried to have the limit lowered when it built Blue Mountain Station. However, the state could not change the limit unless the Blue Mountain Station property was annexed into the City of Dayton.

Dickenson said the port is considering applying for annexation of the BMS property.

Dickinson reported the income from the fiber project was fifty percent higher than projected. She also said a bakery, “Mountain Man Sourdough,” has signed a new lease at BMS, which is now fully occupied.

Dickinson also described the Lighting Incentive Program. She said she was contacted by a Tri-Cities electrician authorized to work under the Pacific Power program. The port would use the program to replace lighting at the industrial park with more energy-efficient LED lighting. The port’s cost for the improvements would be $61,185. However, with the incentive program, the cost is $23,818. Dickenson said there were sufficient funds in the capital improvement budget to cover the expense. The commissioners were supportive of making the improvements.

Commissioners spent much of the meeting discussing plans for the Lyons Ferry Marina. Dickinson described how the marina has consistently improved over the years. She said the facility improvement plan for the marina was on the port’s website and that continued progress was necessary to keep KOA membership.

Dickinson outlined a plan through 2030 for improvements to the marina, including seeking funding for each successive round of improvements. Improvements include ten new RV pull-through sites, a new restroom near those sites, replacing the boat docks in most need of repair, and expanding the boat launch.

The KOA’s high standards must be met to remain in the organization. The pull-through sites were supposed to be met years ago, but KOA extended the deadline as long as the port and concessioners continue to show progress.

Dickenson said the marina’s concessionaires have worked with the port to help extend the budget, including investing their own funds to improve the marina, including adding cabins, covered wagons, a laundry facility, and more tent sites.

The first $1.3 million dollars of improvements would be paid by grants and cash and in-kind matches by the concessionaires and, to a lesser extent, from the port. The commissioners passed Resolution 2024-03, which authorized Dickinson to apply for the grant to improve the Marina.

Dickinson said the port has been invited to the CERB (Community Economic Revitalization Board) meeting on May 16, 2024, regarding the port’s grant application for the craft malt project at BMS. Dickinson said being invited to the meeting was a positive sign.

Dickinson said the Blue Mountain Station sign will be changed from “Artisan Food Center” to “Public Market.”

The appraisal for the CWW Railroad should be done in June, Dickinson said. Also, a group of volunteers have agreed to paint over the graffiti on the railroad bridge in Dayton. The Port will provide paint for the project.

Bryan said he attended a meeting hosted by the U.S. Forest Service and learned that a large amount of land, including land in Columbia County, is being considered for inclusion in a designated wilderness area. He said the planning is in the early stages of study. Twenty-five percent of the area’s forests are already declared to be in a wilderness area. He expressed concern that such a determination could severely limit the recreational opportunities in the Blue Mountains.

The meeting adjourned just before 6:30 p.m. The next port commissioner meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., May 7, 2024.