Port 2 pursues yurt funding

Wahkiakum County Port District 2 commissioners called a special meeting September 1 to consider applying for the 2009 Rural Counties Grant offered by the Washington State Public Works Board (PBW).

The PBW has $9 million to distribute to rural counties throughout the state. The proposed $165,000 grant for Skamokawa Vista Park would jump-start Port 2’s plans to finish projects begun in 2001.

David Goodroe, executive director of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council, presented the grant proposal to commissioners. “The Public Works Board,” he told commissioners, “has sent out a request for proposals.”

See Goodroe discussing the grant proposal here >>><>>>>

The focus of the PWB grant program is to lower the state’s unemployment rate. Wahkiakum County’s 12.7 percent unemployment rate places Port 2 in a favorable position to receive the grant.

“It’s not necessary, but if the port could come up with a 10 percent matching fund, it would move the park closer up the ladder to get the grant,” said Goodroe.

The essential points of the grant consider various criteria. The goal is to create local jobs and job retention, thus attack the unemployment rate. It considers public support for any proposed development. It also looks at the applicant’s readiness to proceed.

The PWB grant allows only one project per jurisdiction. Goodroe said he’d already submitted one project on behalf of Cathlamet, based on the town’s 2005 revitalization plan.

“Port 2 is its own jurisdiction," Goodroe told commissioners, “and I think you should get in on this opportunity.”

Another of the grant’s stipulations is the applicant must have a finished proposal that includes an approved construction and engineering component.

“That’s why this grant is perfect for Vista Park, because your completed comp plan for the yurts is ready to go,” said Goodroe.

In 2001, Port 2 commissioners borrowed a little over $280,000 to implement a Vista Park comprehensive plan. The plan added five new yurts, bathrooms and a shower. The construction completed phase one of the park’s capital expansion but left the park in debt and many of the park’s plans unfinished.

The remaining unfinished yurts project makes Vista Park an ideal candidate for the proposed PWB grant, Goodroe said.

He also said the grant is the perfect vehicle to help the park continue its growth and attract more campers. The grant would give the park an additional five yurts. Goodroe said he’d looked into it and found that Vista Park’s yurts are very popular.

“Right now your yurts are in demand and they are booked up a year in advance,” said Goodroe.

Port 2 Chairman Brian O’Connor said he liked Goodroe’s presentation and thought it was a great opportunity for the park and the board should move to accept the proposal right away.

Port manager Steve McClain said if the park managed to get the grant the park could move forward with its expansion and start installing the water, power and sewer hookups for the new yurts and recreational vehicles.

“This grant would also let us do all the grading,” McClain said.

See Vista Park manager Steve McClain's discuss the Port 2 grant here>>><>>>>

Commissioner Kayrene Gilbertsen, however, had questions about the proposal.

“Why are we changing the original plan that called for more RV’s, to yurts?” she asked. She said she was concerned about the matching funds part of the grant application because of the park’s budget shortfall and indebtedness.

Goodroe told Gilbertsen the Vista Park yurt program has a good cash flow and the yurts have created a good revenue stream for the park. He also said the grant proposal could be structured in such a way that the park could assign McClain as the grant’s project manager and then claim his service as “in-kind” match for the grant.

“It’s not a bad thing to expand a program that’s been successful and works for you,” Goodroe said.

It was also mentioned that the popularity of the large recreational vehicles has diminished because of high gas prices and, in the future, there would probably be fewer big RVs in the park. McClain said that from 2006 through 2008, the park’s yurt program had shown an average increase of from $3000 to $4000 a year, but by 2009 profits from the yurt program had dropped back to 2006 levels.

Goodroe said adding five more yurts should double the park’s income on the rentals.

“I just think this is a good opportunity to help put people back to work and improve the park at the same time,” said O’Connor.

O’Connor called for a vote: O’Connor and Carlton Appelo voted to apply for the grant, Gilbertsen voted no and, the motion passed 2 to 1.

Gilbertsen then called for a discussion to explain her vote against the grant proposal. She said the Park’s original comprehensive plan laid out a set of priorities that had not yet been completed.

“I just think we need to finish Svensen Park and the Vista Park boat ramp,” said Gilbertsen. “Here we are slipping down to number four in our comp plan when we have not done the first three, and that’s my reason for voting against it.”

O’Connor reminded Gilbertsen that none of the projects she had just cited fit the grant proposal they were considering. Also, those projects don't have engineered drawings ready. There had been no study made on the community’s reaction to the proposed projects mentioned and, at this point, it was impossible to tell if any of the projects Gilbertsen named would produce jobs.

“These are all things the grant board will consider when they look at the grant application,” said Goodroe.

“I respect your view,” O’Connor said to Gilbertsen, “but none of the things you just mentioned are a priority, and I think the one we have in front of us is ready to go.”