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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 Hopkins, does the Secretary of State’s Office contact the government within which the district is organized — in the Port’s case Clatsop County — and seek possible dissolution of the agency. By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian The Port of Astoria missed the Dec. 31 deadline with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office to file the fi- nancial audit of its 2013-14 fiscal year. Executive Direc- tor Jim Knight said he isn’t confident in the accuracy of financial statements after June 2013. The Port fired its financial staff and replaced them with a newcomer and a contract- ed outside accountant, who with other Port staff’s help have been combing through the finances a year and a half to ensure their accuracy. The Port Commission, during a Tuesday night spe- cial session, unanimously approved of Knight negoti- Moss Adams to perform its Financial review Jim Grey Colleen Browne, said the audit by Moss Adams could cost $72,000 the first year, work could cost $150 to $200 an hour. The prices, he said, are dependent on a meeting the Port will be hav- ing with Moss Adams and Selections to help prepare the agency for its audits. “I’m painfully aware that we’re not producing accu- rate financial statements,” said Knight Tuesday, adding that the Port has the material to present them for the com- mission for approval, but can’t be sure of their accu- racy. - ager Jim Grey, hired in No- vember to replace the fired What are the consequenc- es for the Port not getting its audit in on time? “There’s just about none,” said Philip Hopkins, munici- pal audit administrator at the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. The Port, once it has the details worked out with its auditing firm, can submit a request to the Secretary of State’s Audits Division for an extension of time to sub- mit its audit. Hopkins said he receives 150 to 200 ex- tension requests each year. Only after three years of a special district not submit- ting a financial audit, said WARRENTON — The 27th Community Center, 170 S.W. - Dungeness crab, cole slaw, gar- lic bread, drink, dessert, and all the trimmings are being served. - currently, it allowed Knight - and Saturday at the Warrenton NORTH COAST During his report near the end of the meeting Tuesday, Knight brought up Grey to explain what Port staff are doing to review all of its fi- nancials and ready them for an audit and creation of the 2015-16 budget, which is due by June 30. The Port has been con- tracting on an hourly basis with Barbara Blue of Bus- sert Law & Associates since Aug. 25 and at least through the end of this month. She’s going back through the fi- nancials as far back as June 30, 2013, the end of the last completed auditing peri- od and the last financials Knight said he and she are confident of their accuracy. Grey said Blue’s primary role is to ensure the accu- racy of the Port’s financial statements, reconciling them with its bank accounts and finding ways to correct inac- curacies. The Port has had trou- ble, he said at the Tuesday meeting, ensuring that bills get out on time and the ac- curacy of prepaid expenses it’s passing on to custom- ers, including one face-to- face meeting with a tenant who might owe upward of $70,000, depending on the The cost is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and those younger than 12, or $10 for a half crab dinner. This event is sponsored accuracy review. The Port’s trying to convey its recent fi- nancial staff changes to cus- tomers, said Grey, and make things right. Operations Manager Matt McGrath said he and oth- er staff members have been going through all the Port’s leases page by page, looking at the bigger fish first. “We’re probably at about 85 percent compliance with the CPI compliance,” said McGrath about the consum- er price index, which mea- sures changes in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by households and changes the price of leases at the Port. “It’s none of the people who are here now,” said Grey of the financial issues. “We’re going to fix this, make it right and make it run like a well-oiled clock.” In other news: • Knight reported that a tenant of the Port, who he would not name, is in arrears on its lease by about $20,000. The tenant has hit hard times but still employs six to eight people, said Knight, and the Port’s trying to be creative in working with the tenant to pay off debt so they can con- tinue to operate. The tenant, he added, has agreed to a re- payment plan. • Grey reported that the Port hired Will Isom from Columbia Memorial Hospi- tal as its new staff accountant starting Jan. 26. Currently, Grey’s the only explicitly fi- nancial employee at the Port. 3A NATALIE ST. JOHN — EO Media Group This year’s Polar Plunge will be in the ocean instead of at Black Lake, pictured above last year. Polar Plunge has been postponed By NATALIE St. John EO Media Group LONG BEACH PEN- INSULA, Wash. — The New Year’s Day “Polar Plunge” has been moved to a different day and a different location. The annual event, which raises money for Ilwaco Middle and High School music, will now take place at 10 a.m. Jan. 17, at Waikiki Beach. Band director Ra- chel Lake said the Ilwa- co Music Boosters had to reschedule the event due to a misunderstand- ing with the Washington State Parks System over an event permit. “That will be rem- edied,” Lake said. She added that everything else about the rescheduled event will be the same. Surf rescuers and volun- teer emergency medical personnel will still super- vise the event, and priz- es, hot cocoa, coffee and photo opportunities will still be provided. Lake said the new ven- ue actually has a couple of advantages. “At Waikiki, there are showers, bathrooms and more parking,” Lake said. corporation which maintains an emergency fund to help DAMIAN MULINIX — EO Media Group Free estate planning workshop set SEASIDE — CLA Estate Services is hosting a free Estate Planning Workshop at 2 p.m. Monday at Rivertide Suites, 102 N. Holladay Drive in Seaside. The workshop will provide infor- mation on securing one’s estate and retirement planning. Partic- ipants will receive a workbook and gain information regarding the pros and cons of wills and trusts; how to avoid probate; long-term health care concerns; tax reduction planning and more. Seating is limited. information, call 866-252-8721 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. At least 100 homes lose water in Cannon Beach Wednesday night CANNON BEACH — At least 100 homes in Cannon Beach’s north end found themselves without water from about 7 p.m. Wednes- day to 2:30 a.m. today when a water line running from the Ash Street pump station uphill to the north reservoir broke, emptying the res- ervoir’s 30,000 gallons of water onto the Ash, Seventh and Larch streets in three to four minutes, Public Works Director Dan Grassick said. The department is “not exactly sure what hap- pened,” he said. By early morning, Pub- lic Works had replaced the damaged section of PVC pipe and restored water to the residents. Three private homes, whose owners are out of town, may have suffered water damaged, he said, adding that the city is trying W A NTED to contact them. PORK ROA ST D IN N ER With Scalloped Potatoes, Veggies, Coleslaw & Roll Friday Jan 9 th 8 $ .0 0 DailyAstorian.com Ilwaco Music Boosters will take the Polar Plunge Jan. 17 at Seaview Beach Approach. Participants are pictured at last year’s plunge at Black Lake. The North Coast State Forest Coalition is hosting a fabulously fun forest e v ening to celebrate our ongoing success protecting the Clatsop and Tillamook State forests and advocating for balance on these public lands Our supporters on the North Coast play a crucial role in this effort and we want to thank you! 4 pm ‘til gone “K araok e D ave” at 6 pm Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Sponsored by Unit 12 1132 Exchange Street • 325-5771 Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 W here: Lo vell S ho w ro o m Fo rt Geo rg e Brew ery 1483 D u a n e St, Astoria , O R W hen : 6:30-8:30 p m Frid a y, Ja n u a ry 9th MAKE a MATCH A local donor has offered a gift of $50,000 and has challenged the community to match the donation dollar for dollar. MEET THE CHALLENGE! November 15th - January 15th To make a tax-deductible donation: www.seasidescholarships.com mail checks to: Seaside Scholarships P.O. Box 332, Seaside, OR 97138 Questions: Celine McEwan 503.738.3569 • info@seasidescholarships.com This ad is generously sponsored by: Michael Granger Lightbox Photographic W hy: W e’ve crea ted con serva tion a rea s on ou r sta te forests, protected O regon ’s la rgest tree a n d a re m ovin g tow a rd a ba la n ced forest m a n a gem en t pla n . So let’s celebra te a n d k eep the progress goin g! W ho: Y ou a n d everyon e you k n ow ! Alon g w ith celebra tion a n d good com pa n y, there w ill be free beer, bea u tifu l loca l photogra phy a n d d eliciou s food a va ila ble for pu rcha se. O regon forest expert Bob Va n D yk w ill provid e a brief slid eshow on ou r progress to con serve a n d restore fish a n d w ild life ha bita t, clea n d rin k in g w a ter an d recrea tion opportu n ities. 3518 U.S. 101, Gearhart www.gearhartbowl.com N o r th C o a st Sta te Fo rest C o a litio n Darryl Lloyd
