PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Industrial Development Corp. — created by the Port of Port Angeles in the 1980s — voted Monday to support in concept the redevelopment of Black Ball Ferry Line’s dock and buildings where the MV Coho car-passenger ferry lands.
That could lead to issuance of up to $8 million in bonds to Black Ball, which the ferry company would pay back.
Neither the port nor the Industrial Development Corporation — which is overseen by the three port commissioners — would be responsible for the money; instead, it is a way to allow a lower-interest loan to support industrial development, said Port Finance Director Bill James.
If the bonds were issued, a separate vote would have to be taken, he said.
“And a whole lot of paperwork,” he said. “We don’t even have enough paper right now for all the paperwork we would have to do.”
Rian Anderson, district manager for Black Ball Ferry Line, said at the Monday meeting of the port commissioners, seated as the corporation board, that the dock project would take place in roughly three phases.
“The first priorities for construction would be the west pier,” Anderson said. “It is used mostly for car traffic coming off the boat and going through customs.”
Eastern pier
The second phase would be the eastern pier, where cars queue to board the Coho, which makes daily trips between Victoria and Port Angeles.
“Several items are lumped into phase 2, including the turning knuckle and the eastern pier,” he said.
The third phase would be to “put some lipstick on the project,” he said.
It would include replacing some of the buildings with more attractive and functional buildings, he said.
“It would be nice to have a more proper building right there on the street [Railroad Avenue],” he said.
Anderson said the company is working with the city of Port Angeles to coordinate efforts with redevelopment of the waterfront as well.
Three-year discussion
The project has been under discussion for at least three years, but the port has been searching for grant funding from the state or federal governments, commissioners have said.
Anderson said Monday that he, too, had hoped other funding would become available.
“I think we all had hoped that some funding would come through so that neither of us would have to pay for this, but I think this is a good plan B,” he said.
Port Commission Vice President Jim McEntire — who also presides as vice president of the IDC — said he was pleased with the alternative.
“This is about as good a plan B as there could be,” he said.
The next meeting of the IDC is set for the same day as the Port of Port Angeles commissioners meeting — Feb. 28.
The commissioners will finalize the action of supporting the project in concept at that meeting.
The IDC does not hold regular monthly meetings, but traditionally holds one per year in January.
James said the IDC is the only entity authorized to act as a conduit of funds — which means the bonds would be tax exempt.
Each county in the state of Washington is allowed to have one IDC, and the port was chosen as the entity to create it in the early 1980s, he said.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
