Hoodsport continues process of dock lease renewal

Kirk Boxleitner | Aug 17, 20230

Gordon Weeks/SMCJ count

Goldsborough Creek on a peaceful sunny day in Shelton.

Port of Hoodsport Commissioner Cody Morris provided an update on the port's renewal of its lease of a state Department of Natural Resources dock.

Hoodsport-based Integrated Northwest Construction conducted a preliminary inspection of the dock and expressed optimism, not only about the state of the pilings, but also about its ability to perform relatively inexpensive "surface-level fixes" to improve the dock's safety and appearance until long-term improvements are possible, Morris said at the port's Aug. 9 meeting.

Morris touted Integrated Northwest's proximity to the port as a factor, which would reduce its bid costs for travel, while also citing the number of other ports undergoing similar processes as a potential resource the port navigates the same challenges.

Morris said that when Integrated Northwest is able to supply him with an estimated cost for the ostensibly "quick fix," Morris will seek to obtain money through the Legislature.

The necessary studies are expected to be conducted this year, Morris said, with near-term repairs addressed next year, and major overhauls on the dock starting in 2025.

One concern Morris expressed was that legislative money is typically not disbursed until July, whereas "I'd like to have this in shape by shrimp season." But if the port benefits from "decent weather" next spring, he said he believes that goal could be "entirely possible."

Morris said Integrated Northwest is amenable to an installment payment plan, but he also floated the option of a matching grant, using legislative money to match the grant dollars, to help ensure the port retains enough cash flow "to handle the unexpected."

According to Morris, Integrated Northwest has expressed confidence it can act as a liaison between the port and the Department of Natural Resources, given the construction company's record of lease negotiation with the state agency, which Morris hopes will help the port avoid requirements that are often applied to larger ports.

When Morris noted that DNR would be willing to agree to an incremental timeline of repairs, fellow port Commissioner Lori Kincannon pointed out the lease being negotiated only needs to address the next 15 years, before calling for a lawyer to be part of the process.

Morris likewise expressed optimism that DNR would be willing to work with the port "as long as we're doing all the required steps, which we're clearly doing as fast as we can," before he acknowledged the need to figure out "an actual, feasible game plan" with Integrated Northwest.

Morris wants to ensure the port can secure enough money for annual dock maintenance, in spite of the rest of its annual budget being so small, while port Executive Director Kathleen Wyatt recalled that the dock was repaired in 2020, at a cost of $17,000.

Wyatt expressed concerns that the terms of the lease don't allow the port to install a breakwater, even though that would prevent significant dock damage, to which Morris touted a more flexible dock design that Integrated Northwest had suggested.

By the terms of the lease, any redesign of the dock must occupy the same amount of square footage or less, but Morris said that still leaves viable options open.

Morris proposed inviting Integrated Northwest to the next port meeting so it can provide its own update, and in the meantime, he conceded, "This fall, I need to go out and beg for money, so it would really help if I knew how much money I was begging for."