PORT TOWNSEND — Four candidates seeking two open spots on the Port of Port Townsend Board of Commissioners squared off for one final debate, primarily on the port’s finances and infrastructure.
About 50 people attended the forum at the Port Townsend Masonic Lodge on Thursday night.
Bob Schuessler, 66, of Port Hadlock is challenging incumbent Commissioner Dave Thompson, 66, of Port Townsend for the Port of Port Townsend District 2 seat, and Leif Erickson, 58, of Port Ludlow is challenging incumbent Commissioner Herb Beck, 71, of Quilcene for the Port of Port Townsend District 3 seat.
Ballots were mailed Wednesday for the Nov. 3 general election.
Debate focused primarily on the port’s finances and the dilapidated A/B Dock in Port Townsend Boat Haven marina.
A/B Dock
“All you have to do [to see a problem] is walk down and take a look at A/B Dock,” Schuessler said.
“It’s been neglected for years and years, and it’s dangerous.
“The problem isn’t the rates being charged, it’s the bang for the buck people feel they get, and right now, they feel they are getting ignored.”
Schuessler, a former harbor master and boat owner, has said that the port has raised moorage rates to the point that it was making boat ownership unaffordable.
He said his main goal as a port commissioner would be to repair — and eventually expand — Jefferson County’s largest marina.
Erickson, a production manager at Townsend Bay Marine and vice president of the Marine Trades Association, also said he wanted to see a planned renovation of A/B Dock and hoped to see changes to the moorage rates.
“You can’t run an entire district on moorage rates,” Erickson said. “And you can’t base them on rates in Everett or Seattle.
“We need rates that are based on life here in Port Townsend.”
Erickson said taxpayers should not have to subsidize A/B Dock repairs, and would look for a long-term strategic plan.
Dock to be replaced
Meanwhile, the incumbents agreed that A/B Dock needs repairs and assured voters that the work was on the horizon.
“We will be replacing A/B Dock,” Beck said. “It’s going to be a big project and it’s going to cost a lot of money.
“We have $600,000 in a fund right now for that renovation.”
Beck, a farmer and retired electronic technician, said he didn’t want to raise rates just to pay off the repairs needed on the dock.
“We need to be at a reasonable market rate,” Beck said. “We just can’t raise it to prices such as [Seattle].”
Thompson, a local shipwright, also promised renovations to the dock but said he also wanted to see revisions to the moorage rates.
“The marina makes money . . . and we are 12 percent below the market rates [on moorage fees],” Thompson said.
“It is going to be a big project, but it will get done.
“What I’d really like to see is the rates clearly noted.”
Thompson said he has lobbied in his first term to see the true rates listed for the marina moorage fee, rather than one rate followed by additional fees.
Schuessler and Erickson also said they want to see “honest numbers” listed for moorage fees.
Eco park
Also discussed in length by the candidates was the proposed 24-acre airport “eco park” light industrial site that the port proposes at Jefferson County International Airport, a proposal that recently received the blessing of the Jefferson County Planning Commission.
“This has been going on since 2002,” said Beck, who was on the board at the time of the original proposal.
“It will still be maybe four to five years before anything happens but the [Jefferson County Public Utility District] says we have the water available [for development] and I believe what they have to say.”
Thompson said the plans for the development looked solid.
“It’s going to be developed as a commercial area,” he said.
“Part of that is going to serve as a fire department house, a spot for helicopters to land and some additional administration buildings.
“With the commercial developments, the PUD has assured us we have adequate water for what we have in mind out there.”
Erickson said he too was supportive of the plans.
“The PUD has indicated an ample supply of water for the development of about 10 buildings,” Erickson said.
“These aren’t restaurants or high usage buildings.
“It seems it will work if the development does go ahead.
“It supports the marine trades and if it operates in the black there could be potential for development there.”
Schuessler opposed
Schuessler said he was opposed to the idea.
“I’d like to see a gated community with access to that airport [if there is development],” Schuessler said.
“We don’t need an industrial park, when other places [the port operates] aren’t full.
“It could eventually be a good idea but not until there is a waiting list of people looking for space.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.