SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2017
Projects
from 1A
Ultimately,
commissioners
decided to not hold off the project
for another month, and voted
unanimously to have the new
plans submitted, with the caveat
that Aiken give an on-the-record
clarification as to why he decided
to make the change.
The commission then turned its
attention to the port manager job
description, which staff members
had been working to revise to
stave off any future conflicts that
might occur with vague wording.
After a few clarifications, the
description was passed unani-
mously.
This now paves the path for the
commission to start looking for a
new port manager.
Currently, Dina McClure is the
interim port manager after the dis-
missal of Steven Leskin earlier
this year. McClure’s official posi-
tion is the port’s administrative
assistant.
The position is expected to be
posted on Jan. 2, with the port
accepting applications until Jan.
31.
The commission also discussed
selling the 40-acre industrial park
the port owns, which has laid
vacant for years as the port
attempted to sell the parcel as one
large lot.
In a work session held prior to
Wednesday’s public meeting, the
port heard proposals from two real
estate companies to take on the
task of selling the property.
Andy Johnson from Coldwell
Banker and Tony Wells from
Berkshire Hathaway presented
their realtor proposals in the meet-
ing, with both suggesting that the
lot be broken up into smaller,
mixed-use parcels.
“About 90 percent of every-
thing that is sold is a residential
home,” Johnson said. “With com-
mercial and industrial land, the
pool of buyers really shrinks. It
creates a definite obstacle and hur-
dle to get over in order to get the
right buyer. I would encourage the
port to be creative in selling the
11 A
property — as far as being flexible
in financing the short term and
being creative in pricing and strat-
egy — because these types of
sales don’t happen that often.”
Wells agreed with the assess-
ment, saying, “The problem is, the
big players look at our demo-
graphics or the workforce to suite
those big projects. So, we’re kind
of in between time. I would like to
look into that idea to make it a
mixed use.”
The commission decided to
hold off on making a final deci-
sion until next month, allowing
commissioners time to review
both proposals.
Commissioners also received
input from the community on the
future of the port. Since a public
input meeting was held in
November, a bevy of suggestions
have been flowing in. Those sug-
gestions continued on Wednesday
night as the public comment sec-
tion brought in ideas.
One speaker had researched the
concept of privatizing the Port of
Siuslaw campground, going as far
as contacting American Land and
Leisure, a nationwide agency that
runs campgrounds for various
government agencies. He had
worked some out the financial
benefits of privatizing, along with
the day-to-day operations of
American Land and Leisure.
Another person gave support of
creating a public pier for various
activities, something that similar
ports on the coast have but the
Port of Siuslaw lacks.
More suggestions were given,
including opening up the port
showers to the public once a week,
with volunteers overseeing it to
prevent vandalism, and an econo-
mist who gave statistics on the
fishing industry on the coast as a
whole.
Whether or not any of these
plans will be accepted by the port
remains to be seen, but the com-
missioners found the timing of the
input advantageous because the
port’s current five-year strategic
business plan is set to expire in
2018.
Commissioner Bill Meyer stat-
ed that the public input should be
funneled into a committee that
could parse through the sugges-
tions, look at their economic and
social feasibility and how they
could fit into other issues facing
the port. These could then be used
as a blueprint for the next five-
year strategic plan, and will be
finalized later in 2018.
The commissioners encouraged
the public to keep bringing their
ideas to the table. The port will
hold another town-hall style input
meeting in January, date to be
determined.
Funding to repair the building
that houses Mo’s restaurant was
also secured Wednesday.
“Mo’s building was built in
1984,” McClure said. “From what
I can see, the only real repairs are
that we replaced the roof in 2011
for $1,800 and in 2014 we
replaced all the windows, gutter
and floor. Other than that, the
building has not had a whole lot of
attention. The exterior is in great
need of repair.”
While the port had originally
planned to fix multiple issues with
the building, including repairing
the cupolas and shingles on the
roof, the cost was prohibitive.
Instead, the port will focus repairs
that need immediate attention,
including the south and west
walls, with particular attention
being placed on the windows,
which have been leaking.
After that, McClure reported
that a grant was secured to pur-
chase new security cameras for
the Florence marina and camp-
ground, which will be installed as
soon as the vendor can schedule it.
Signe Grimstad, of Grimstad
and Associates, gave a presenta-
tion regarding the port's recent
audit. He gave the port a clean bill
of financial health, stating, “This
was our first year with the Port of
Siuslaw. You've received a good
opinion, which is what you strive
for.”
Grimstad also praised the ports
staff as being helpful in the audit.
“They’re very open and recep-
tive,” he said.
Finally, McClure was able to
obtain ten spruce logs that will be
used to replace the current water-
logged wood debris booms that
are beginning to show signs of
rot.
The booms block debris from
the river, such as floating timber,
from entering the marina.
McClure had looked into using
more modern debris booms, but
found that they were cost prohibi-
tive. The new spruce logs will
work as a suitable replacement
until the port can find funding for
more modern booms.