Port 2 may manage Oneida boat ramp

Commissioners of Port District 2 of Wahkiakum County on Tuesday expressed some excitement about the possibility of managing the Oneida boat launch in Deep River after being approached recently by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“That area sure has a lot of potential,” Commissioner Lee Tischer said.

According to Commissioner Brian O’Connor, WDFW has been offering this opportunity for years, but “it’s come a long way.”

Commissioner Lori Scott and Port Manager Janet Bryan will be meeting with the representatives from the WDFW next week to discuss the matter.

The commissioners acknowledged that their excitement was preliminary, because details are scarce, but some forward thinking has got them pondering how they could put in an ice machine for commercial fishermen who use the launch.

In other matters, the port will be looking for another outfit to provide wifi service provider after Maddog Wifi informed them that they will no longer do so.

“I think it’s important to have wifi,” Commissioner Lori Scott said. Everyone agreed.

Last year, the port provided a storage space to the sheriff’s office for three months free of charge. A year later, the sheriff’s office has still not been charged for the space. The port plans to revisit the matter.

During a conversation about a myriad of maintenance issues, Tischer suggested that the port look into the cost of putting down blacktop from the gate to the first loop, as well as a couple speed bumps.