Port 1 OK's more cabins at marina

Commissioners of Port District No. 1 of Wahkiakum County authorized installation of two more park model cabins at the Elochoman Slough Marina when they held their monthly meeting last Thursday.

The port has had three of the cabins in use for about a year, and staff and commissioners said they're pleased with the results.

Manager Jackie Lea said she has contacted firms which produce the cabins to develop specifications for a request for proposals (RFP).

Commissioners agreed to issue the RFP; proposals will be opened at 3 p.m. January 25.

Lea said two more cabins, one large, one small, should cost about $83,000. Demand has built for the cabins, she added; they're already booked for many holidays in 2008.

Commissioners Larry Bonds, Leroy Burns and Brett Deaton, who was sworn into the office at the start of the meeting, agreed.

"I don't see any reason not to put them in," Bonds said.

The commissioners also approved a suggestion from Lea to hire a full-time person whose primary responsibility would be cleaning the cabins. Lea has been using part-time employees for the job, but with turnover in the staff, she's had to do much of the weekend work.

"Jackie is running short staffed," Burns said, "so I think we need another person working full time to handle these duties."

After discussion, Bonds and Deaton agreed.

The board did authorize staff to take weekends off and leave the office closed on weekends until March 1. There isn't enough activity to justify having a person on duty during that time, they said.

The board also voted to adopt a new moorage lease agreement.

The major change, said port attorney Tim Hanigan, is a requirement for insurance and registration: Owners shall maintain boat insurance and current registration and shall provide the port with a copy of the documentation. If the owner fails to maintain insurance and current registration, the port may terminate the lease.

The lease also provides the port the authority to sublet a designated berth if the owner's boat is absent and the owner hasn't provided a notice of absence.

Lease holders will not be allowed to transfer a moorage lease with the sale of a boat.

David Goodroe, new executive director of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council, explained a proposal to construct a business park with a small business incubator.

Port districts, under state law, are authorized to participate in this type of project he said, and he proposed that Port 1 work with the EDC on the project.

"We all have an open mind at this point," Burns said. "It's all about creating jobs in Wahkiakum."