The Columbia Press
January 29, 2021
Business and development tidbits
3
Utility bill penalty suspensions to end
City leaders struggle to ensure
pandemic restriction fairness
Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press
The Port of Astoria’s Pier One building is filling up with tenants.
Port to sell itself with new plan
A marketing plan, aimed
at informing the public and
improving the Port of Asto-
ria’s image, was introduced
to port commissioners at a
workshop this month.
The goal is to cultivate new
relationships with boat own-
ers, aircraft owners and busi-
ness owners as well as im-
prove relations with current
vendors, partners and affili-
ates, said Melanie Wiegardt,
staff accountant.
“It’s to tell the port’s story
in our own words,” Wiegardt
said.
Port staff members already
are updating the website with
biographies of port commis-
sioners and photos of em-
ployees. And the port will
begin publishing a quarter-
ly newsletter for tenants in
March. A social media cam-
paign introducing Executive
Director Will Isom and Dep-
uty Director Matt McGrath
comes next.
The port’s reputation has
taken several hits over the
years due to commission
in-fighting, legal problems,
and troubled relationships
stemming from the actions of
former executive directors.
County public works
A Portland company will
help the county with its ef-
forts to relocate the public
works facility, which current-
ly is within the tsunami inun-
dation zone.
On Wednesday, county
commissioners hired Mack-
enzie, a land-use planning,
engineering and architectur-
al firm, to conduct a facility
needs assessment that will
help in choosing a site for
public works.
Twelve sites have been iden-
tified as potential relocation
sites. They include properties
on Highway 101 Business,
Loukas Lane, Farm Lane,
Walluski Loop, two on Fort
Clatsop Road, and two on
Lewis and Clark Road.
Also in the running is a por-
tion of the Fort Pointe prop-
erty in Warrenton, a site on
Dolphin Avenue near the new
middle school, and a parcel on
19th Street in the North Coast
Business Park.
The $67,400 contract with
Mackenzie has a completion
date of April 28.
Sunset Lake Bridge
County commissioners ap-
proved a $187,505 contract
with Oregon State Bridge
Construction of Stayton to
repair the failing wood com-
ponents of the Sunset Lake
Bridge, south of Warrenton.
The bridge is restricted to
lighter vehicles only until re-
pairs are made.
The county received four
bids, with the Stayton compa-
ny’s bid $60,000 lower than
the next lowest bidder.
The city of Warrenton will
reinstate shut-offs and pen-
alties on those who fail to pay
utility bills beginning next
month.
When the COVID-19 nation-
al emergency was declared
last March, the city temporar-
ily suspended late fees, penal-
ties and water service discon-
nections for nonpayment of
past due balances.
The suspension ends Sun-
day, Jan. 31, and normal bill-
ing processes begin for all
utility customers. Past due ac-
counts are scheduled for shut
off on Feb. 23.
“There are 200 past-due ac-
counts that would be consid-
ered for shut-off,” City Man-
ager Linda Engbretson said
during Tuesday City Commis-
sion meeting. “We generally
have under 20.”
Those who are still strug-
gling because of the pandemic
will not be shut off if they’ll
contact the city to work out a
payment plan, she said.
The city has placed door
hangers at homes and added
warnings to customer’s utility
bills, she said. Yet only a doz-
en or so people have contact-
ed the city to set up payment
plans.
“I don’t want it to become
a big ugly mess, but on Feb.
23, we’ll begin shutting peo-
ple off. There’s no reason for
turning people off with this
opportunity.”
City Commissioner Mark
Baldwin acknowledged the
struggle and rules from the
state that have hurt those in
the service industry.
“To be direct, the shell game
the state government is still
playing with the COVID is dis-
concerting to people,” Baldwin
said. “They give it to us. They
take it away. They give it to
Utility bill help
To set up a utility
payment plan
with the city, call
503-861-2233.
us. They take it away.
Waitresses feel like
Mayor Henry Balensifer
they’re on a yo-yo.”
Mayor Henry Bal-
full closure compared to other
ensifer, along with the mayors
industries that are running to
of Astoria and Seaside, asked
different capacities,” Balen-
the state for data to justify the
sifer said.
closure of restaurants, a huge
He intends to continue
portion of the economy on the
pressing the state for more
North Oregon Coast. No re-
transparency and a rationale
sponse was received, he said,
for the decisions made.
although the private League
“Help the public understand
of Oregon Cities reported
why it is we’re doing what
restaurants accounted for 4.7
we’re doing. We need to see
percent of infections during
the data,” he said. “There’s a
November and December.
growing number of elected of-
In a Jan. 25 update to con-
ficials who will be jumping on
stituents posted on his Face-
the bandwagon … because the
book page, Balensifer criti-
public demands and the pub-
cized the state’s response.
lic needs and the public has a
“Obviously, that’s not ex-
right to the information relat-
actly a number that justifies a
ed to these types of things.”