Port 1 covers County Line, brewery bid

Three issues quickly rose to the forefront last Thursday at the July meeting of the board of commissioners of Port District 1.

Because of budget issues, Cowlitz County has been trying to shed four parks from their list of responsibilities. Kayrene Gilbertsen, a Port District 2 commissioner, presented a case to Port 1 for allowing Port 2 to consider taking on one of those properties, County Line Park.

“Campgrounds are what we do,” said Gilbertsen.

She recognizes that County Line Park is problematic, with issues of liability and maintenance and much needed upgrades to the bathrooms. The septic tank was pumped in 2012, and Gilbertsen said Cowlitz Parks director Ron Junker assured her that it should be good for the next four years.

Currently, County Line Park is only making $18,000 a year for Cowlitz County.

”That doesn’t cover needed samples to the health department, electricity or the pump for the well water,” she said.

Campers are currently charged $10 dollars a night for what should be a seven day limit, of which there is little evidence of policing, she said.

“Is this something Port 1 wants to take on as a challenge?” asked Gilbertsen. “Port 2 would like the opportunity to consider it, and maybe give it a shot for five years, perhaps. We’re not even sure we could get liability insurance, and then we couldn’t take it on.”

All agree that they would like to see it stay open.

“Can we table it a month and give it some thought?” asked Commissioner Larry Bonds.

(Editor's note: Port District 2's board of commissioners discussed operating County Line Park at their meeting Tuesday; see story elsewhere in this issue.)

One bid was received for the construction of the building for Drop Anchor Brewery.

Brewery representatives were disappointed to learn that the bid from Big Rock Construction out of Tumwater, a bid which was ultimately rejected by the port commissioners, was larger than the first bid they had received.

Commissioner Gary Quigley pointed out that the problem with the bidding situation may actually be the time frame, with local contractors busy with other current projects. He also cited prevailing wage as a reason for such high bids.

“We’ve missed our grand idea of a grand opening for this year,” said Steve Sharp of Drop Anchor Brewery. “So timing is not all that critical anymore. We have discussed all the options, and we still want to be located at the port. We don’t want to get up on the highway. We certainly could redo the thing and put it back out to bid again and extend it.”

Sharp went on to suggest another option for the brewery.

“We have investigated taking a couple of these storage units in your existing building and turning them into the brewery,” Sharp said.

The group would be willing to pay twice the current rent, and clean it up to make it look more like a store front. Sharp believes this could bring more commercial business to the port, and that more activity would bring more money. He stated their preference for the two storage units on the northwest side. They would be willing to rent the grass out to 3rd Street in order to prevent motor homes from parking there, but remarked on willingness to open it up for motor homes in an overflow situation.

Commissioner Brett Deaton asked if the two stalls were currently rented.

“Yes,” said Port Manager, Jackie Lea. “We can relocate them. One wants to move to smaller unit, and we have one available. The other one we can transfer into a unit coming available.”

“Then are you going to tell the other people they have to leave if we expand?” asked Bonds.

“That’s up to you,” replied Lea.

“We don’t want you to evict anybody,” said Sharp. “If the two people are willing to switch units, if something comes available, then we’ll ask ourselves if we want to grow.”

Deaton later raised the topic of boats in the marina that were in poor shape or had expired tags. He was especially concerned that a couple were in danger of sinking.

Commissioners discussed options for handling the problem.

“All the marinas that I’ve been in,” said meeting attendee Bob Kizzar, “have required proof of insurance and to have the marina as co-insured, which cost me nothing extra.”

“That would get rid of the problem,” said Quigley.

In other business, the commissioners opted not to raise electrical rates at this time.

Nothing was resolved on Thursday and commissioners will use the next month to consider the new information. They will return in August to discuss their thoughts with the public.