PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles commissioners delayed a decision Monday on whether and how much to loan the Harbor-Works Development Authority.
Harbor-Works had requested $500,000 in funding to use over the course of the next two years.
Commissioner George Schoenfeldt said he was supportive of the entity, but he would prefer an additional week to review the request and any lingering questions on the issue.
“I just want to make sure that what I’m thinking the money will be used for is what it will actually be used for,” he said.
He suggested waiting until the Aug. 10 meeting to vote on the issue, and commission President John Calhoun and Commissioner Jim McEntire agreed.
“I am very much in support of the project,” Schoenfeldt said.
“I just want to review it a little more before we take a vote.”
Fund uses
Jeff Lincoln, Harbor-Works executive director, said the money would be used in the due diligence process and market analysis for the Rayonier mill site to help determine if the public entity could take on the responsibility of the property.
“I anticipate that by next July, we can recommend whether or not we should acquire the property,” Lincoln said.
“We expect that Rayonier will offer to pay for the cleanup — up to a certain level — and then transfer the property to us.”
Lincoln said he hopes to begin property development within three years.
“There appears to be a consensus to move this forward,” Lincoln said.
“We can be well on our way to having the shovel in the ground in three years.
“Until someone can prove to me that it cannot be done, that will be my goal.
“It will be a difficult challenge, but we will make this project happen and bring it back to a productive use.”
The port had originally budgeted $200,000 for Harbor-Works in the 2009 budget year.
Interim Executive Director Bill James said the port could use some of its discretionary funds — which amount to about $150,000 — for capital projects, and another $150,000 from other capital projects that have not been completed or that could be done over a couple of years.
All three commissioners agreed that it would be better to allocate all of the money they will give to Harbor-Works for the next two years at the same time to allow flexibility.
In other business, the commissioners reviewed the budget variance report.
The port is about $147,917 over budget at this point, but James said he expects many of the expenditures and revenues to even out before the end of the year.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
