Port 2 planning for plan update

Commissioners of Port District No. 2 of Wahkiakum County took another step toward updating their comprehensive plan when they met September 18.

Karen Bertroch, chair of the Columbia Pacific Resource Conservation and Economic Development District (RC&ED) and a former port employee, discussed the process her group would use for updating the plan.

"It's a park and recreation plan," Bertroch said, not a comprehensive plan for port development.

The board needs to develop public input; the RC&ED would develop that into a plan, and the draft plan could be presented to the public.

Commissioners responded that they had held listening sessions last spring with mixed success.

That data could be compiled and forwarded to whomever writes the plan, Bertroch said.

"You are so big," Bertroch commented. "You have the potential to be a great economic driver in this county."

After more discussion, the board agreed that port Attorney Tim Hanigan and Port Manager Janet Bryan would draft a request for proposals from firms who might want to be consultants for the plan update.