Port of Allyn reviews technical matters

Kirk Boxleitner | May 12, 20220

The Port of Allyn reviewed several technical matters during the port commissioners’ May 2 meeting.

Port Executive Director Lary Coppola said he sent a letter to Mason County commissioners to say the port was reducing its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy request for its water system project from $500,000 to $100,000.

“However, there is a new set of hoops we have to jump through for the federal government, and we are just now navigating that maze,” Coppola said. “We should have the bid specs for the new well soon, so we can get this out to bid. Our goal is to have it up and running by year’s end.”

According to Coppola, nothing had happened on the possible acquisition of Jeff Carey’s water system as of May 2. The port was awaiting a decision from the Department of Health on a temporary variance for a sewer line.

Coppola was able to report progress on the port’s damage claims after submitting the claim to Enduris for the storm damage to the finger pier. The port also contacted Marine Floats, the company that built the replacement dock, to obtain a repair estimate.

Enduris accepted Marine Floats’ time and materials quote, allowing the dock to be fixed.

“However, the adjuster on the wire-theft portion of the claim was pretty lax in getting his part done, so we can get that portion of the repairs completed,” Coppola said May 2. “I lit a fire under Enduris last week, and it’s now moving forward.”

Coppola said the electrical contractor was set to have it finished by May 6, in keeping with the port’s goal of having everything done and operable before May 7, the opening day of boating season.

“We secured the access to the electrical equipment, so it can’t be turned off simply by cutting the lock, by completely enclosing the kiosk,” said Coppola, adding that the port installed steel doors with deadbolts to secure the electrical equipment, and putting stainless steel locks on the equipment cabinets inside.

“There is a stainless-steel junction box out on the pier, but we are securing it with double-deadbolts, instead of just a padlock,” Coppola said.

Coppola said the Port of Allyn had hoped to conduct its regular May 2 meeting as a “hybrid” in-person and Zoom meeting.

“However, due to the fact our staff was out ill, off and on all month, we were not able to put the setup together and test it in time, to be sure we didn’t have any technological glitches,” said Coppola, who predicted the port would “have this ready to go” for its June 6 meeting.

Coppola also said new security cameras and equipment have been installed at the North Shore, and are “up and running, as is one here in Allyn.” The two multisensor units on backorder due to a chip shortage should be installed as soon as the port receives them.

“The vendor is going to research other units with the same capabilities that we can get sooner,” Coppola said.

Coppola stressed that the port must come up with a plan for redistricting by November.

“I don’t expect we will see a lot of changes, since it’s my understanding the district’s population numbers were cut off on Dec. 31, 2021,” Coppola said. “I reached out to the ports of Shelton and Dewatto about possibly sharing a consultant. Shelton responded that they elect commissioners at large, so no redistricting is necessary. Dewatto informed me that they checked with the county auditor, and we’re supposedly able to use the county’s Geographic Information Systems figures without a consultant. I have a call in to the county auditor to get a handle on this process as well, so we may be able to save some money if that will work.”

Although the Port of Allyn is still looking at other websites for ideas about updating its own site — portofallyn.com — Coppola noted that “in spite of all the complaints by a couple of individuals about our website, the Washington Public Ports Association is using it as a positive example of how port websites should work, in one of its spring meeting sessions next week.”

Coppola did have the Port of Allyn’s webmaster install a large button on the opening page for 2022 meeting documents, with the intention of making it easier to find.