Port 2, sheriff's office discuss old office plans

Wahkiakum County Undersheriff Steve Marshall thought he had an understanding with commissioners of Port District No. 2 about the use of an old office building and equipment garage at Skamokawa Vista Park.

Port officials had used the office building for their office for years but this winter moved into a park model cabin in Vista Park, leaving the office vacant.

The office sits on land owned by the non-functioning Skamokawa Park and Recreation District. County commissioners recently declared the district defunct and disbanded it. The county acquired the property, which includes the old port office and a basketball court.

In April Marshall had proposed to Port 2 that the county would use the office for records and evidence storage and deed the property with the basketball court to the port district. In return, he asked that the port district let the county Search and Rescue Unit store some equipment in the port's old garage. He left that meeting with that understanding.

Not so fast, port commissioners said at their May 21 meeting; that wasn't their understanding of the discussion.

The port abandoned the office in part because of legal and financial issues, said port Commissioner Brian O'Connor. The park and recreation district wasn't paying its utility bills, even though the port was paying rent, and the port was unhappy with that situation.

Port Commissioner Kayrene Gilbertsen said no one notified port staff that the county commission would be holding a public hearing to disband the park and recreation district.

She and O'Connor doubted that the port would have space to rent in the garage.

Marshall said the county would have to take care of the unpaid utility bills, not the port district.

Port Commissioner Lori Scott said Marshall's plan might be beneficial to the park and is worth looking at if the port would acquire title to the basketball court property free of charge.

"Let's set up a meeting to discuss the particulars and not negotiate in a public meeting," said Port Attorney Tim Hanigan.

"I think we can work out a deal," O'Connor said.

Marshall said he would schedule the meeting.