Rayonier to be approached about HarborWorks buying site of ex-pulp mill

Published 4:16 am Thursday, August 7, 2008

PORT ANGELES — The new Port Angeles HarborWorks Public Development Authority will broach the idea of acquiring the Rayonier mill site in the next couple of months, the authority’s board chairman said after a meeting of the group on Wednesday.

The development authority board decided at its monthly meeting that it will seek $300,000 in loans from the city of Port Angeles and the Port of Port Angeles — $150,000 from each entity — to fund its expected operating costs.

It also unanimously approved $195,982 in expected expenses for operations from August through December.

The salary for a permanent executive director — yet to be selected — was budgeted at $12,000 per month, but the exact salary for that job hasn’t been determined yet.

The $195,982 in listed expenses also had some overlaps.

Though HarborWorks’ executive director hasn’t been picked, the $12,000 salary was listed as beginning in August — $60,000 through December — and overlapped with the cost for an interim manager at a cost of $8,000 for two months’ work in August and September.

If approved by the City Council and port’s board of commissioners, the $300,000 in loans would be the first funds allocated to HarborWorks since it was created by the city and port in May.

The development authority was formed to oversee — and hopefully speed up — the cleanup of both the Port Angeles Harbor and the 75-acre mill site.

It is also expected to direct future development of the waterfront property at the end of Ennis Street on the Port Angeles Harbor.