Port 1 budgeting marina improvement

Wahkiakum County Port 1 Board of Commissioners met last Thursday for budget and rate hearings, to approve a loan from the county and a bid to replace C Dock, and to hear about projects around the Elochoman Slough Marina.

Paige Lake was on hand to talk about the fourth annual Wahkiakum Lighted Christmas Parade which will include vendors and the parade which begins and ends in the port parking lot, with a visit to Main Street in between.

“We started this event to promote the port and some of its other assets,” Lake said. “We wanted to let you know we will be using your spaces on December 10 for our parade.”

“It’s definitely been a good, fun event,” Port Manager Todd Souvenir said.

Budget and rate hearings were opened and closed without any public comment.

Souvenir, anticipating some large expenses between now and the end of the year, made a change to the budget that affected the beginning cash balance. The port hopes to extend electricity on the waterfront and down the dike, and move the RV sites displaced by the new brewery building and parking lot to the waterfront before the end of 2022.

The proposed 2023 budget of $1,209,691 includes the beginning cash balance of $439,416, as well as revenue from moorage, totaling $154,000, $138,000 from tent and RV camping, and $80,000 from yurts and cabins. Expenses include salaries for the manager, maintenance manager, and administrative assistant totaling $139,500, $396,191 for capital outlay, which includes but is not limited to C Dock replacement, and a new fish cleaning station.

Souvenir said that he met with Wahkiakum County PUD to discuss their portion of the project on the waterfront and down the dike. He said the PUD’s work would cost the port a little over $22,000 and they would replace the secondary wire that goes out to the fuel dock with primary wire and add 200 amp service at the beginning and end of the dike.

He has also met with three electric services to collect bids for the project, and plans to meet with a fourth.

One company told Souvenir that RV pedestals were difficult to obtain at this time and could be three to six months out. After they quoted him a price for pressure treated four by four posts, he called another company. They told him they could get six RV pedestals to him the next day.

“The river view, in my opinion, needs to be a true RV pedestal and set up correctly,” Souvenir said.

“More to come,” Souvenir said.

Commissioners adopted a resolution approving a $250,000 loan from Wahkiakum County for the C Dock replacement and approved a bid from ISCO Industries for $292,019.84 to build and assemble the new dock.

ISCO was the lowest of three bids, with the highest coming in from Topper Industries for $727,246.

With the eventual opening of the new brewery, discussion turned to how to deal with the nearby outfall, a remnant of the former sewer ponds.

“If we dredge next year, we will still need the outfall, so we can’t simply fill it,” Souvenir said.

The port has used the site for their dredge spoils in the past, and the outfall allows the water to drain.

Commissioner Scott Anderson suggested a removable cover. Jerry Nakonsky, the maintenance manager, will look for a solution.

Souvenir said that after a recent visit with Port 2 staff, he thought it would be a good idea to update the yurts at the marina, after seeing the insulated yurts at Vista Park.

“The inside seems a lot cleaner, brighter, bigger,” he said. “And the flooring has been updated.”

After a little research, he found it would cost about $4,500 to update both of the port’s yurts, adding insulation to the walls and ceilings, and replacing flooring.

“They’re cold and then they’re hot,” Souvenir said. “It would help with both.”

“Help with power too,” Nakonsky added.

Commissioners agreed.

The port office has been renovated, and new fuel reels have been installed at the marina. A water break was repaired at County Line Park.

Projects continue. The timers need to be replaced on the showers, and there are plans to replumb. Talk continued about a new fish cleaning station.

“We need to build a good one because this is becoming quite a fishing destination,” Commissioner Brett Deaton said.

“It’s just a crowning jewel on top for that,” Anderson said.