Port 2 preparing to hire architect for laundromat

Commissioners of Port District 2 boosted property taxes and went over issues regarding coming projects when they met Tuesday.

Commissioners were split in their views over raising property taxes 1 percent, the maximum allowed by law without a vote of the public.

Commission Chair Lori Scott opposed an increase, noting the district financial position is in the black.

Commissioners Brian O'Connor and Lee Tischer, however, supported the increase. Both said the district will have unexpected expenses, and both didn't want the district to lose taxing capacity by going several years without making the annual increase.

When it was time to vote, O'Connor and Tischer voted for the increase, and Scott voted against it.

The district will collect $65,856.06 in property taxes in 2016; the 1 percent increase totals $658.56.

One expense the district will have is construction of a laundromat at Skamokawa Vista Park.

Only one architect responded to a request for services to design and supervise construction of the facility.

The commission has authorized Manager Janet Bryan and Attorney Tim Hanigan to evaluate the proposal and execute the contract.

Skamokawa resident Jon Peterson, president of West side Water Works, commented that the Vista Park connection to the West Side Water Works system is a .75-inch line, and they may want to enlarge that when they build the laundromat.

In other business, commissioners noted they had received authorization from Wahkiakum County to pursue improvements to the boat launching ramp on Skamokawa Creek.

The county owns the property, but the port district has operated it, and commissioners have wanted to improve launching facilities in the vicinity. Port staff will develop cost estimates for future consideration.

Attorney Hanigan also reported that he had researched old leases for port property along Pleasant Point Road near the boat ramp. The leases have expired, he said, and port staff may proceed with notifying owners of property stored on the land that must be removed.

Editor's note: The first version of this story incorrectly stated that Jon Peterson was a member of the board of directors of Skamokawa Sewer and Water District. He is president of West Side Water Works, which supplies water to much of Skamokawa.