Port of Allyn gets 'clean' audit findings

Kirk Boxleitner | Apr 13, 20230

The Port of Allyn’s scheduled state audit for the period from 2019 through 2021 was “overall quite positive for us,” Port Executive Director Lary Coppola said. The auditor commended the port for scoring a “clean audit,” Coppola added.

“There are no findings, no management letters issued, and the auditors found we fully complied with all state laws, rules and regulations, as well as our own policies and procedures,” Coppola said. “This is the third clean audit we’ve had in the eight years I’ve been here. Considering the unprecedented amount of turmoil we experienced during 2020 and 2021, I’m proud to say the results reflect exceptionally well on the way the port is managed.”

Moving onto the port’s pier replacement, Coppola outlined the port’s options as either replacing the entire pier with a new structure or “sleeve” the existing pilings to effectively keep the creosote out of the water.

During one of the king tides that occurred between Christmas and New Year’s, pilings broke loose from the alcove on the pier and floated away.

“We’ll have to drive new pilings for the ones that are missing,” Coppola said. “We’re looking into the feasibility and useful life of both, versus cost. In the meantime, the contractors who repaired the north shore dock are going to give us a bid on sleeving the pilings.”

If the cost turns out to be less than the $500,000 that the Port of Allyn had requested in this year’s budget for planning and design, when Coppola and the port’s lobbyist met with state Rep. Dan Griffey, the legislator had reportedly told Coppola he would support using the money for that requested purpose, but only if it winds up in the final state budget.

“It was included in the House budget, but not the Senate version,” Coppola said. “That same week, I had a meeting with state Sen. Christine Rolfes, who heads up the Ways and Means Committee, and she said she would look into it.”

Although sleeving the pilings should fix the immediate problems, enough to put off any further rebuilding for at least 10 years, by Coppola’s estimates, he emphasized “we won’t know anything until we receive the bid, and we know the final outcome of the budget.”

Regarding Kayak Park, Coppola noted the port has received “some communication” that grants are available for electric vehicle charging stations, which caught his attention because “we continue to search for a way to increase usage of the park.”

Coppola expressed a degree of cautious optimism, but did not commit to anything.

“It could be valid, as we have a restroom facility, which could make it attractive for users, and it could create a new revenue stream for the port,” said Coppola, who added he was waiting for confirmation from the state Recreation and Conservation Office that this would be an allowable use for the park.

Coppola told the Herald that the problem with Kayak Park is that “no one uses it,” except for vandals, which has led the port to try to either surplus it or find a productive use for it that will draw nondestructive attendees.

According to Coppola, the port learned it could not surplus the park without reimbursing RCO for the roughly $250,000 it spent on the park about 20 years ago. Likewise, attempts to add a gazebo or a veterans’ memorial have run afoul of county permitting guidelines, with a gazebo not being sufficiently set back from the water, while other uses could run the port thousands of dollars more in costs than it has available.

As for the port’s security cameras: Coppola told port commissioners the port plans to return to small claims court May 17, and has refiled for $5,000.

“We may have to absorb the loss of the difference,” Coppola said. “While we will most likely prevail, there is no guarantee we will get paid. In my view, this is our best shot at any kind of recovery for the least amount spent.”

If the port prevails, Coppola plans to ask the port’s attorney if they can file for the remaining amount.

Coppola told the Herald that the port has spent the past year trying to obtain the cameras from a Kitsap County vendor, to no avail.

“Our position is, the port gave them every opportunity to finish the job, but they never did so,” said Coppola, who declined further comment, due to the matter being in the court system.