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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
August 24, 2023     Shelton Mason County Journal
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August 24, 2023
 
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Page 38 — Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 Port of Grapeview prepares budget, centennial By Kirk Boxleitner kbox/el'tneflernasoncoonty com The Port of Grapeview’s Aug. 15 meeting saw commissioners consider renovations and spending, and the port’s 100th anniversary approaches, celebrations. Port commissioners Jean Farmer and Mike Blaisdell agreed the anniver— sary in November isn’t the best time to mark the centennial because they pre- fer an outdoor open house that could take advantage of pleasant weather and draw “big names” to the festivities. Farmer and commissioner Art Whit— son agreed such an occasion should also use the marina space, so it’s possible the ceremonies might be observed next summer. Moving onto the port’s upper park- not yet been ordered, saying he hadn’t been able to produce a draft for reno- vating and shifting the parameters of its parking lot. To produce that draft, Whitson re- quested the location and layout of the septic system on site. Turning to the port’s lower parking lot, Whitson told commissioners how “several people in the community” had approached him about the parking lot’s light, asking whether the port could re- duce the amount of light it casts on its surroundings. One person suggested some form of shade covering. Whitson said other area residents have told him the light should be left as is for safety reasons. Blaisdell and Farmer took no action regarding the light, which Whitson ul- timately found persuasive. Blaisdell matter had also yielded positive and negative feedback about the light. Blaisdell and Farmer agreed the light helps avoid certain risks at night and during the darker winter months, but given the many commercial har— vesting vessels that’launch from the port, multiple times daily, the lights absence could constitute a liability. Commissioners also discussed the preliminary draft of the port’s budget for next year, which is typically intro- duced in August and subject to public hearings in autumn, allowing residents of the ports districts to contribute their comments to the draft’s poten— tial revisions before its adoption by the commissioners. As the port’s auditor, Amanda Mont— gomery normally would have led the Aug. 15 budget discussion, but her Blaisdell noted he’d already provided her with his feedback. Farmer noted the budget does not include a specific line item for the Case Inlet Fisheries Task Force website, which is a joint venture between the ports of Allyn and Grapeview. Farmer inquired about the port’s landscape maintenance budget. Blais- dell said it was higher this year due to an initial cleanup, but as the landscap- ing is conducted at scheduled intervals, he said he anticipates those expendi- tures will even out. Commissioners agreed they should check what their landscapers’ rates will be next year. With those considerations factored in, Blaisdell expressed confidence the port would meet its deadline of post— ing its preliminary draft budget at portofgrapevicw.com for the public to ing lot, Whitson noted its gravel had noted previous public discussion on the online connection was intermittent. View on or before Sept. 15. Lack of quorum forces Dewatto to cancel meeting By Kirk Boxleitner kbox/e/tner@masoncounty com The Port of Dewatto canceled its scheduled Aug. 9 commissioners meeting because a personal emergency arose that would have left the board without a quo- rum, according to Port Manager Jeana Crosby. The port did have a special meeting Aug. 11, both remotely and in-person at the port office building in Tahuya, to sign vouchers that would allow the port to pay its bills and salaries. However, according to Cros~ by, the rest ofthe business that had been scheduled for the port’s August meeting will likely have to wait until its Sept. 13 meeting, unless another special meeting occurs before that date. Crosby said the absence of a quorum also affected the port’s public record-keeping. In order for the port to publish the minutes from its July 12 meeting at por— toidewatto.com, those minutes must be approved by * MASON COUNTY HlSTORlCAL SOCiETY 8 SHELTON DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS PRESENT: lilllllSlll' lHRlllill lllllE BAR 8Hllllll August 27, 2023 Downtown Shelton Resigtration 8—103m Judging Starts at 10am *25+ Award Categories * Raffles at 50/50 Drawingir 0 C I O O O O C D 0 WM .sheitondowntownmemhan(stem www.masoncoumyhistoricaisocietytrg I Quetions: 36044264020 both of the port’s remaining commissioners. Crosby promised to provide minutes from the Aug. 1] meeting at that same time as well. By the time the port’s September meeting takes place, Crosby said the ongoing search to fill the vacant seat on its board will be close to being escalated to the next level, this time from Mason County to the Gover— nor’s Office. The port had 90 days from the start ofthe position’s vacancy, caused by the death of then-commissioner Ray Mow in April, but because no one was appointed during that period, the county was then tasked with appointing a commissioner for District 2, which en- compasses the areas surrounding Haven and Wooten lakes. “After the additional 90 days allotted to the county, we will have to ask the governor to appoint someone to the position,” Crosby said. “At this point, even if we do finally get someone who is interested, they will --‘--—---—-—-0 US' we“ m .V .,\ ing; 4;») I", lllb'l‘ultlifil. .501 ml“ Alliantll We no longer be able to be appointed by our commission, but will instead be appointed by the county, or by the governor if it’s after the county’s 90-day window has expired.” Crosby urged any registered voters who live in Dis— trict and are interested in the position to call her at the Port of Dewatto office at 360-372-2695. In other port news, cybersecurity matters have been a matter of some interest for the commissioners this summer. Dave Haugen, Mow’s successor as commis- sion chair, deemed its handling to be “quite serious” in the wake of a recent spate of “scams and ransomware.” Crosby continued for Haugen that the port already maintains backups of its data. He suggested the port conduct such data backups daily via thumb drives, a suggestion Crosby pledged to explore, although she suggested using external drives. Crosby and Haugen agreed that would help safe— guard the port against hackers and computer crashes. I: "31‘ r ammo sum. {.17 lthIflfitfiK CG‘M i l “001W? '5?”