Port 2 willing to consider taking on County Line Park

Cowlitz County is trying to divest itself of county parks that don't produce revenue, and officials there have talked of shedding County Line Park.

Commissioners of Port District 2 of Wahkiakum County, who operate Skamokawa Vista and Svensen parks, met Tuesday and said they are interested in the possibility of taking over County Line.

However, there are a lot of hoops to jump through. County Line Park is located in Wahkiakum County on land claimed by the state Department of Natural Resources. Cowlitz operates the park through a memorandum of understanding with Wahkiakum County. The park also lies within the boundaries of Port District No. 1.

Port 2 Commissioner Kayrene Gilbertsen visited the Port 1 board last Thursday to talk about possible involvement of the ports in the operation of County Line Park (see story elsewhere in this edition). Port 1 commissioners said they would consider the idea and discuss it more at their August meeting when they had more information.

Gilbertsen said she visited County Line and felt it isn't operated the same way as Port 2's parks. Camping fees are quite low, for example.

"Perhaps Port 1 or Port 2 could do a better job," she said.

She and port staff said they would investigate the situation further.

In other business, Port 2 commissioners voted to amend their sand sales rates for large scale purchases.

Port Manager Janet Bryan said contractors planning to bid on the US Fish and Wildlife Service/Corps of Engineers setback dike for the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge are interested in buying sand from the port. The estimated quantity is 70,000 cubic yards with a potential value of $225,000.

Port Attorney Tim Hanigan suggested the commission amend its rates to require a deposit to ensure the port receives revenue and can pay its duty to the state Department of Natural Resources, which claims ownership of the dredge spoil sand dumped on the Vista Park beach.

After discussion, commissioners voted to require a 25 percent performance bond for sales over 1,000 cubic yards, to require that sand be scraped off evenly and not excavated from a deep pit, that the contractor maintain dust control, that the trucks obey a speed limit of 5 miles per hour, and that the contractor maintain or repair park roads that might be damaged by the hauling.