MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE PORT OF HOODSPORT COMMISSION

March 25, 2009

Call to Order:  9:30am                                                                   Adjourned:  10:49am

 

Roll Call:                                    Commissioner Wyatt

                                                     Commissioner Benavente

                                                     Commissioner Hamlin

 

Staff Present:                              Rich McEachin, Executive Director

                                                     Terry Veitz, Admin. Assistant

 

Public:                                         None   

 

Approval of Agenda: Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to approve the agenda

for March 25, 2009 as submitted. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Public Communication:            None

 

Commissioner Reports:

Commissioner Benavente: Reported that he attended the RTPO and Hood Canal Coordinating Council meetings. Commissioner Hamlin: Reported that he invited the Lake Cushman Maintenance Board to attend Port meetings. Commissioner Wyatt: Reported that he attended the County Commission and WRIA-16 meetings and offered the agendas and minutes for review. He reported that the Port was not successful in obtaining the Dept. of Ecology grant. Further, that the grant was given to four entities who had volunteers in place and would be granted $10,000 each.

 

Executive Directors Report:

Executive Director McEachin reported the following: He received information from State Parks and the Hoodsport Trail Park property closed escrow on March 5, 2009 and now belongs to the Port. Commissioner Benavente suggested that the Port look into signage for the park. He also took a short walk through the park and reported that one bridge is in need of repair. Executive Director McEachin stated that he has a person that is willing to donate their time and use of his Kubota in exchange for trees that may be down. He also stated that permits are not required for maintenance projects, only new construction. Executive Director McEachin also reported that the 2nd quarter newsletter is completed and ready to pick up at the printers.

 

Consent Agenda:

Minutes: Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to approve the March 11, 2009 minutes as submitted. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

Vouchers:

Commissioner Benavente made a motion to approve voucher 3-2, pages 1 and 2 as submitted. Commissioner Hamlin made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Old Business:

Discussion/ Direction regarding the recent engineers report for dock pilings: Executive Director McEachin reported that the letter states that there is no damage to the dock pilings due to previous storms. Commissioner Benavente stated that there might be other issues and that the pilings should be monitored. There was a consensus of the Commission that the ED should have the maintenance person monitor the pilings regarding corrosion.

 

New Business:

1. Discussion/Direction regarding the removal of some trash receptacles on Port property: After Commission discussion, there was a consensus that the ED should have one can placed at the dock, but closer to the walkway and another will remain in the parking lot area. Also to add one larger locked dumpster that the maintenance man could empty the trash cans into. That way the trash collection company only has to empty the dumpster. There was also consensus that signage might be helpful in discouraging people from using the receptacles for dumping their household trash.

2.Discussion/Direction regarding mailing newsletters to residents of Lilliwaup and Union: The Executive Director reported that the EAB made the suggestion to send newsletters to Lilliwaup and Union residents. They felt it would be helpful to the Port for more people to get the newsletter and know what the Port is doing. Executive Director McEachin stated that the problem would be cost. The cost to add residents of Lilliwaup and Union to the existing mailing list would be $1,492.00. He suggested that it would be more cost effective to rely on the Hoodsport special section in the Journal as a means of getting Port information to those residents. Commissioner Benavente stated that the EAB members could share the newsletters with those out of the area, when they have meetings together. Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to not expand the newsletter mailing list. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

3. Discussion/Direction regarding Port minutes being forwarded to the Journal for use in the Hoodsport special section: Executive Director McEachin stated that he had a call from the reporter at the Journal, requesting that the Port minutes be sent to him and he would take whatever information he felt appropriate and use it in the special section about Hoodsport. Executive Director McEachin suggested that he write a press release to provide the information the Commission wished to have printed. Commissioner Benavente made a motion to direct the Executive Director to send a press release to the reporter at the Journal to provide information for the special section. Commissioner Hamlin made the second, passed unanimously.

4. Discussion/Direction regarding the status of the Hoodsport Sewer Project: Commission Benavente stated that uncertainty exists due to the lack of information regarding the Hoodsport sewer project. The focus seems to be about Belfair and from the very beginning the Port of Hoodsport has been excluded from the talks regarding the Hoodsport sewer project. He further stated that an update of the status of the project should be requested. Commissioner Benavente made a motion to direct the Executive Director to write a letter to the County, Tribe and PUD 1,  requesting an update and that the Port Commissioners should be invited to the meetings regarding the Hoodsport sewer project. Commissioner Hamlin made the second, passed unanimously.

5. Discussion/Direction regarding closure of several State Parks: Commissioner Benavente stated that several parks are being slated for closure. Potlatch Park is on the closure listing. He stated that he felt it is important to understand how that closure might affect Hoodsport, particularly tourism. Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to direct the Executive Director to write a letter to the County and State Parks, from the Port Commission, stating what effects such a closure would have on Hoodsport.

 

Recess of Regular Meeting/Convene Executive Session:

At 10:29am, Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to recess the regular Port meeting and convene the Executive Session per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (b), for 10 minutes. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Adjourn Executive Session/Reconvene Regular Meeting:

At 10:39am, Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously. Commissioner Benavente made a motion to direct the Executive Director to validate the exclusive contract with Don LeMaster as the Ports real estate broker. If the contract must be renewed, it should be brought to the Commission. Commissioner Hamlin made the second, passed unanimously. Commissioner Benavente made a motion to direct the Executive Director to pursue the information received from the Forestry Service regarding properties that are for sale, utilizing the Port’s real estate broker. Commissioner Hamlin made the second, passed unanimously. Commissioner Benavente made a motion to direct the Executive Director to write a letter to GM Hardware and state that the Port is not interested in their offer at this time.

 

Adjourn:

Commissioner Hamlin made a motion at 10:49am to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Minutes Approved: April 8, 2009