Park and recreation district dissolved

Wahkiakum County commissioners voted Tuesday to dissolve the defunct Skamokawa Park and Recreation District.

The district was formed in the 1970s and operated the former Skamokawa Library. Interest in it waned, and Port District No. 2 used its building as an office for Skamokawa Vista Park until this winter when the port bought a park model cabin and installed it in the park for an office.

No one from the district spoke at a public meeting on the proposed dissolution Tuesday.

The Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Department has proposed that the county acquire the land and use the old office as a records storage location.

Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow said the easiest process for dissolution of a defunct board is for the county to acquire assets and liabilities. In this case, he said, the district's debts are relatively affordable, only "a couple grand."

Commission Chair Blair Brady said he wanted to make sure the county wasn't taking the property from the port district, who operates next-door Vista Park.

"The port district has known about this for lots of time," Bigelow said. "They pulled out."

Skamokawa resident Mike Linn said he understood from reading the Revised Code of Washington that the port could annex the property.

Brady said approving the dissolution of the district doesn't lock up future uses. Commissioner Dan Cothren moved to dissolve the district; Mike Backman seconded the motion, and it passed.

"I would like to talk to the port district to work out a way to meet everyone's needs amicably," Brady said.