Port 2 commission plans for laundromat

Commissioners of Wahkiakum Port District 2 took care of some business Tuesday and postponed other items to their December meeting.

The commission has issued a request for proposals from architects to design and assist in construction of a laundromat at the entrance to Skamokawa Vista Park. Commissioners Lori Scott and Brian O'Connor (Commissioner Lee Tischer was absent while attending a training conference) authorized Manager Janet Bryan to review the proposals and present a recommendation for hiring a firm at the commission's December meeting.

Commissioners approved their 2016 budget, which totals $380,775. They predict a beginning cash balance of $160,000 and an ending balance of $186,126.49.

They have budgeted $50,000 for capitol improvements, which aren't specified. Commissioners have been discussing making improvements to the boat launching area on Skamokawa Creek.

However, commissioners were split on whether or not to increase the port district's property tax levy 1 percent, the statutory limit that the commission can increase the levy without an election.

Attorney Tim Hanigan said the increase would be $658.56 with a total levy of $66,514.62, up from $65,856.06 this year.

Commissioner Scott said she would prefer not to increase the levy.

"Since we're solvent and doing well, I would feel good about not increasing it," she said.

Commissioner O'Connor, however, favored making the increase to keep the district's levy capacity current. Every year the board declines to increase the levy, it gets further behind, he said.

"That little bit of money we get, it can go some place," he said. "It's not a nominal amount of money. When you share it across the district, it's pennies per person."

After a bit more back and forth discussion, Scott and O'Connor agreed to leave the issue for the December meeting when all three commis-

sioners will be present.

Commissioners were ready to adopt a resolution raising camping rates, but because they had an incorrect copy of the new rates, they also postponed action to the December meeting. Tent camping rates won't increase, but other camping fees will increase $2.

In other business:

--Commissioners discussed cleaning up port property along Pleasant Point Road. Hanigan said he would research any possible agreement with residents for use of the property.

--Commissioners also approved a contract with the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce for marketing and other services. Bryan commented that the Chamber has done good work for the port this year and she recommended increasing compensation from $500 to $750 for 2016. The two commissioners voted to approve the contract with the higher rate.

--Beginning in December, the commission's meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m., not 5 p.m. as has been the practice for several years. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month in the Skamokawa Vista Park office building. Tischer, who has taken a job as a school bus driver, had requested the change to allow him time to finish driving duty and travel to the port meetings.