Port 2 OK's loan, plans to set buoy

Commissioners of Port District 2 on Tuesday approved a $301,000 loan with the Bank of the Pacific to construct Svensen Park and repay a loan from Wahkiakum County.

Manager Steve McClain said the loan would be used as the local match to state funds for park construction. The port will make payments of $2,400 per month at 5.0325 percent interest. The term is 15 years.

The port had borrowed funds from Wahkiakum County several years ago for a variety of projects but will now pay back the balance owed.

In other business, retiring Commissioner Kyle Gribskov agreed to come back for at least one more meeting in January.

Gribskov didn't run for re-election, and no one else ran for the position. Under state law, he may continue to hold his seat until a successor is appointed. Port Attorney Tim Hanigan said he will be advertising for candidates for the position. Gribskov's district roughly lies between KM Mountain summit and Alger Creek.

Incumbent Commissioners Kayrene Gilbertsen and Carlton Appelo hope to appoint someone to the position in January.

County Commissioner Blair Brady demanded to know when the port would install the last of a set of buoys on Grays Bay.

"It's been over a year since the others were installed," he said. "Collectively, the other commissioners and I are very tired of taking the calls about it. And when are you going to fix the lights on them?"

McClain responded that he had delivered the last buoy to a Cathlamet crab fisherman who has agreed to place the buoy off Harrington Point. The crabber will place it when he can schedule it.

The other buoys in the channel across Grays Bay are anchored with an anchor that screws into the bottom, McClain added. At Harrington Point, however, the bottom is hard rock, so the port had to construct a cement block anchor and find a vessel capable of handling it.

"We haven't been able to find anyone who could place it until this fall," Gribskov said.

McClain added that he was unaware lights weren't working on the buoys but would check that.