Port 1 seeks bid compromise

Commissioner of Port District No. 1 of Wahkiakum County are still looking for a resolution to their bid call for installation of a new dock at the Elochoman Slough Marina.

The only bidder, Clearwater Solutions, Inc., was well over the $300,000 budget in October, and port staff met with Clearwater to determine could be cut from the bid to bring it into budget.

Last Thursday, Commissioners Leroy Burns and Larry Bonds--Brett Deaton was absent--reviewed the potential cuts and almost came to an agreement on what parts of the project the port would take care of to meet the budget.

The two agreed that the contractor would do the basic dock installation, but the port would take care of the boarding ramp, electrical connections and some other portions.

Manager Jackie Lea suggested a subcontractor, who had submitted a quote on the boarding ramp after deadline, could be hired at a significant savings for that work.

Burns, a contractor himself, objected.

"I'm not for it," he said. "That's not the way it's done. He came up with his numbers two days later. That's not right. The other contractor will sue."

Bonds said he was willing to accept the lower bid as it would save the port money, but Attorney Tim Hanigan suggested the discussion be tabled for executive session involving potential litigation.

Hanigan added that the port the ask contractors on the small works roster for quotes, and that would be fair.

The commissioners could have put the project out for bids again, but the process would have precluded the contractor using the current in-water work window allowed by environmental permitting agencies.

In other business, the commissioners passed a resolution adopting a $1 million budget for 2009 and another authorizing a 1 percent increase, totalling $549.13, in district property taxes.

The port expects to start 2009 with $358,000 cash on hand. Property taxes will raise $56,000. Other major revues expected are transient overnight moorage $25,000, tent camping $18,000, annual moorage $24,000, monthly moorage $52,000, cabin rental $38,000, RV camping $15,000, mini storage rental $16,000, and fuel sales $126,000.

Major expenses expected are fuel purchase $120,000.Salaries for permanent staff will be, approximately, manager, $39,000, and assistant manager, $25,000; those figures were in the budget; commissioners agreed to a 3 percent raises, so the final numbers will differ.