Port of Allyn provides updates on ongoing projects

Port considers fencing Sweetwater Park lot

Kirk Boxleitner | Jan 20, 20220

Port of Allyn Executive Director Lary Coppola gave progress reports on several projects and expenditures, including the port’s upcoming update to its comprehensive to-do list, at the port’s Jan. 3 board of commissioners meeting.

Coppola noted the port posted a community survey on its website and its Facebook page, and included a copy of the survey in its meeting packet.

“I posted it in every Facebook group that I can identify for Mason County,” Coppola said. “There’s about 10 of them.”

The port had scheduled a public hearing and presentation for its Jan. 3 meeting, but it was canceled due to concerns it might have been insufficiently advertised beforehand.

The port already had a second public hearing scheduled for its Feb. 7 meeting, which Coppola pointed out could also include approval of the comprehensive project update. The port needs to submit its updated state Recreation and Conservation Office by March 1.

At the same time, Coppola reminded commissioners, “We don’t really have to have a public hearing on this because this isn’t the official update. We aren’t bound to do the official update until 2024. We have just done annual updates as a matter of course, and the public hearings are just to keep the public aware of what we’re doing.”

The survey lists 11 projects, including two projects already in progress, and asks respondents to rank those projects and suggest new projects.

To find the survey, go to portofallyn.com and click “Click here to download and fill out our PDF community survey” on the port’s home page.

According to Coppola, the port, as of Jan. 3, had yet to receive its staging-area expense reimbursements from RCO, “but I’ve been told to let the process run its course and we will see that money soon.”

Coppola nonetheless described that issue as having seemingly taken a life of its own, as RCO are now asking for documents submitted back in 2019.

“We are more than $150,000 under-budget for this project, so I’m hopeful the $7,500 request for additional fencing will be approved as part of the reimbursement,” he said.

Although the port also has expenses related to its new well, Coppola clarified that those are coming out of the port’s water fund, not its general fund.

Coppola had nothing new to report regarding the Oyster House or Sweetwater Park.

He described the Oyster House as “basically in a holding pattern” until the port can obtain its U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.

“Once we have that, we can put the pile-driving and construction of the platform for the building out to bid,” said Coppola, who reiterated that the Washington Public Ports Association has taken the lead on the permitting issue. “Port associations in other states are doing the same, so we’re hopeful a congressional solution to the stalemate between the Army Corps and (the National Marine Fisheries Service) will take place at some point this year.”

Regarding Sweetwater Park, Coppola acknowledged that Port of Allyn District 2 Commissioner and Board Vice Chair Ted Jackson and the port’s security officer have suggested possibly fencing off the front part by the road to keep people from using it as a parking lot.

“We’ve had a number of vehicles, including a broken-down RV and a boat on a trailer, left there for several days in recent weeks, which creates a potential liability for us,” said Coppola, who pledged to get bids for both rental and semi-permanent fencing.