Port 1 commissioners okay boundary changes

The Wahkiakum County Port 1 Board of Commissioners met briefly last Thursday to do a little housekeeping and talk about potential business.

Commissioners authorized Port Manager Jackie Lea to sign paperwork to resolve a boundary issue with the Town of Cathlamet pending a final survey of the former sewer pond property, of which both entities have a share.

They also waived their compensation for any special meetings and authorized a resolution to adopt one change to Port 1 commissioner district boundaries. It moves a portion of District 2, east of Jacobson Road and south of SR 4 to District 1, and confers a more even distribution of the population to each of the commissioner’s districts.

The commissioners continued a conversation about where the port might place a large hangar for a float plane after someone approached the port last month about potentially operating tours from the marina, but nothing was resolved. The pilot/owner was expected to be at the meeting but had to postpone his visit.

Port staff will conduct a sounding of the marina and the Elochoman Slough for dredging purposes this week. The window for dredging the slough is closed for now, but the port can still dredge the marina until February 28 when that work window closes.

Maintenance Manager Todd Souvenir said staff were repairing the yurt decks and adding awnings to protect the yurt doors. He also said that the fuel lines had been replaced, and they had completed some small projects at the cabins.

Commissioner Brett Deaton had some good news to share.

“We’re going to have a springer season this year,” he said. “We will be busy. It will be a good money maker in March and April.”