Port 2 deals with cash flow

Commissioners of Port District No. 2 of Wahkiakum County were in good spirits November 17 when Chair Brian O’Connor called the meeting to order to go over port business.

O’Connor asked Auditor Sharon Mast how things were. Mast had been on a family emergency during last month's meeting and said things were fine. She then asked commissioners if they would mind if she submitted both months’ Vista Park vouchers for their approval at this meeting. “This first page is the list of vouchers and totals $142,422,” she said.

Mast said she also needed vouchers signed for Burns Construction, the Department of Labor and Industry, Employment Security and Internal Revenue Service.

Park Manager Steve McClain said the park had a little over $114,000 on hand.

“Primarily this is not enough to pay the current bills,” said McClain, “but I’ve talked with the county treasurer, and she will give the park a 30-day loan to cover the shortfall.”

McClain told commissioners the Burns Construction voucher of $128,911 was 75 percent reimbursable from the state. The park would get back about $112,000 from the state and the park would use that refund to pay back the county loan.

“I just want to make sure when you see these big numbers you understand we’re really not going further into debt,” said McClain. “It’s just we have a lot of money out and were just waiting to get it back.”

McClain said the port’s new policy statement was ready and he would send each of them an electronic copy after the document was formatted for the computer.

He also said that two of the five boats the park had deemed abandoned had been removed.

“I guess the owners read The Eagle and learned the park was moving ahead to have them legally declared abandoned,” said McClain.

The park will continue its action against the remaining three boats to have them towed off park property.

McClain told commissioners he wanted to establish a small works roster for 2010 and advertise in the paper. He said he also attended a small port seminar where he learned the law governing prevailing wages and personal service contracts had changed.

“I would recommend you download the new information manual from the small ports web site. It will be very helpful when we need to issue any new contracts,” said McClain.

He also informed commissioners the 2009 Rural Counties Grant offered by the Washington State Public Works Board had been rejected. The proposed $165,000 grant would have allowed the port to finish the Vista Park comprehensive plan that began in 2003.

The commissioners also heard that the new port dredge co-op has planned a meeting to formalize its operational priorities and to decide how the dredge will be manned, and they'll also set a maintenance schedule.

“A dredge schedule will be decided based on each of the ports’ needs,” McClain said.

The discussion then turned to an update on Vista Park’s ownership of the park office building and surrounding grounds. Commissioners heard that the deed to the office building and the land it sits on need interpretation and clarification before the park can move forward with retaining ownership of the property.

“I think the Skamokawa Park and Recreation District will have to meet and officially turn over its ownership to the park,” said McClain, “but first Jennifer Hanigan (the port’s attorney) will have to straighten out the details of the deed transfer.”