Port 1 commission wants to buy dredge

Commissioners and Port Manager Jackie Lea spent most of last Thursday’s Wahkiakum County Port District 1 meeting talking about the dredge they are considering for purchase and the logistics of getting it to the Elochoman Slough Marina.

The dredge belongs to the Rose City Yacht Club in Portland. The yacht club has asked the port to wait until November to purchase the dredge, when their new one will arrive, according to the Port District’s Manager’s Report.

“They aren’t going to sell it to anyone else,” Lea said. “They are committed to us.”

If given an opportunity, the commissioners agreed that they would like to see how the dredge runs. Because two commissioners together constitutes a meeting, the public will have to be notified if they travel together to Portland to get a look at the equipment.

This dredge requires another boat to provide locomotion. The commissioners authorized Lea to begin a search for another boat that would be used to maneuver the dredge.

There was some discussion about the need for a dredge trailer as well. One individual has offered to build the trailer, which would be used for short hauls, in and out of the water. Still, if the commissioners opt to have a trailer built, the project would have to go out to bid.

“I’d like to see us keep the dredge out of the water when we’re not using it,” Commissioner Bob Kizziar said.

“I think it’s ideal that it’s out of the water,” Lea agreed.

The yacht club will not be responsible for delivery of the dredge and Lea has been researching how they might get the vessel here.

“I’m trying to find out whether the barge is the best way,” Lea said. “I’ve got truckers working on the issue as well. Some people say they can take two boats and bring it down together. We’re working out every angle we can look at.”

“I think it would just be easier to bring it down by water,” Commissioner Gary Quigley said.

The matter was tabled to allow Lea time to collect more information.

Lea presented a preliminary budget and rates for 2016 to the commissioners for their perusal and Port 1 Counsel Tim Hanigan suggested having a rate and budget hearing at the November meeting.

In other business, the commissioners approved a resolution to borrow $250,000 from Wahkiakum County for the replacement of B dock, to be paid back in five years.