Port 1: Wait and see for Wooden Boat Festival

Wahkiakum County Port 1 Commissioners met last Thursday to discuss the annual boat show, a possible multifunctional building, a grant application, and water at County Line Park.

According to Port Manager Jackie Lea, Wooden Boat Show organizers Julius Dalzell and Allen Bennett were looking for guidance from commissioners about whether to move forward with this year's event.

After some discussion, commissioners decided to take a wait and see approach.

Dalzell and Bennett had also approached the port with some ideas of erecting a multi-functional building on port property, Lea said, and wondered if commissioners would support their quest for funding.

Commissioners said they would be willing to sign a letter of support for the project.

The commissioners also authorized port staff to apply for a Recreation and Conservation Office grant. The application period had been extended and staff thought they might use the possible funds to update walkways at County Line Park.

There was some discussion about water testing at County Line Park. The park was managed by Port 2 until recently, and Wahkiakum PUD had been testing the water for them as part of an interlocal agreement.

Port 1, which has taken over the park, agreed that the PUD should continue testing, and will work on creating an interlocal agreement with the utility, Lea said.