Port 1 scrambles for salmon season

At the Wahkiakum County Port 1 meeting last Thursday, commissioners learned that preparations at the marina for the spring season was especially challenging in the last month.

The ice machine broke down and needed a new pump and filter. A repairman had visited three times to repair a washing machine that quit spinning. In the bathrooms, a faucet needed to be repaired and so did a toilet. Another toilet needed to be reset. There were problems with the new propane water heater. In the cabins, one futon wouldn’t fold down and one of the refrigerators needed to be replaced. There were problems with the showers and customers were having problems with WIFI. Several sections of the F dock water line needed to be replaced.

On top of all that, the permit from NOAA to replace D dock did not come through in a timely manner, despite the port’s hope to have the project completed before the spring season.

Commissioner Bob Kizziar said that he had repeatedly called the port’s contact at NOAA, Michelle Day, for two days.

According to Kizziar, when he finally made contact, Day informed him that the project had been shifted to a formal review because someone realized that a new dock meant that the marina would be there for a long time.

Kizziar remained hopeful.

“I told her that this is a little town and that the marina is 80 percent of our business,” Kizziar said, “that it affects everyone in this town of 500. I had a feeling she was in our corner.”

“That could drag on forever,” Commissioner Brett Deaton said, “so I think we better get D dock back in order.”

Boats had been removed from D dock before it was prepared for a quick replacement earlier this year. Staff will get it ready for use again while the new dock waits in the parking lot.

Port Assistant Leanne Jacobs is working on a bid package to have trees removed at the marina. Some trees are no longer safe, but it’s also about aesthetics.

“Gary [Quigley] is the one who brought this issue up to begin with,” Kizziar said of the former port commissioner. “He wanted to open up a lot of view here. He thought that would attract tourists into our area.”

Other issues at the marina had the commissioners talking about taking more punitive actions.

Some of the people who use the launch have been powering their boats onto their trailers, which is damaging the ramp. Others have been parking their trailers against a fence despite signs which clearly ask them not to do so.

According to Deaton, it’s mostly people from out of town.

After some debate, the commissioners agreed that they should have more signs and a policy to institute fines or ban people who ignore the rules.

About two years ago the port began requesting registration and insurance from everyone who moored at the marina. According to Port Manager Jackie Lea, many are still not compliant.

Currently those people pay a monthly moorage rate, but the commissioners authorized Lea on Thursday to begin to notify them that if they do not become compliant they will be charged the transient monthly rate, which could more than double their fees.

After that, they may be asked to leave.

“We’ve got a waiting list,” Commissioner Scott Anderson said.

The commissioners discussed the fish cleaning station, which Deaton described as inadequate.

Anderson and Kizziar agreed and Deaton promised to research the matter.

They are also considering what to do with the concession stand.

Town of Cathlamet Councilman Dick Swart was in attendance to share a consultant’s vision of a metal sculpture wind farm for the former sewage lagoons.

“I’m not a big fan of it,” Deaton said. “I think it’s a poor location.”

Anderson and Kizziar agreed with Deaton about the location, but had different views about the nature of the design.

“I like the concept,” Anderson said, “but the location may not be the best.”

“I’m of two minds with this,” Kizziar said. “I’m into alternative, regenerative non carbon power, but I’m not sure we should put it on our only public access to the water.”

Still, one of them acknowledged that most of the land belonged to the town.

“We are going to wait until we have a full council before we really make a decision,” Swart said. “We’re not moving rapidly but we haven’t forgotten this. The upshot is that we’ll have a community discussion.”

Commissioners approved travel for Lea and Deaton to attend the Washington Public Ports Association meeting at Skamania Lodge in May.

The commissioners will return at 2 p.m. on April 14 for a workshop on the dredge. The April port meeting will follow at 5 p.m.