Port still reviewing water line agreement

Housing Kitsap's Phase 2 line extension and water availability agreement with the Port od Allyn is still in review with legal advisors, according to Executive Director Travis Merrill.

"I will be inquiring about status this week as I intend to get this wrapped up before the end of the year," Merrill wrote in his report to commissioners.

"I think it will be wrapped up in the next few weeks," he said at Tuesday's meeting.

He said he would bring the contact before commissioners for approval.

"It's for a very large amount of money and it is also for a very large extension," he said.

A ribbon cutting for Phase 1 of the project will happen sometime in December, according to Merrill.

"We've got 12 new families moving into the area. All of them will be paying our water system," Merrill told commissioners.

The homeowners are part of Housing Kitsap's Mutual Self-Help program, according to Merrill.

"Staff guides each group of home buyer-builders through the home loan process and through the build process from start to finish," according to Housing Kitsap's website.

"The Mutual Self-Help Program requires participants (group members) to work together under the guidance of Housing Kitsap to build each other's homes. The group members perform 65% of the construction work during the building process known as 'sweat equity.' The group members commitment requires up to 35 hours per week for a timeframe spanning 12 to 14 months. There are no exceptions in completing your weekly required hours. Your volunteer(s) can help with a portion of your weekly hours, however if your volunteers do not show up, you will be responsible for all of your weekly hours. Sponsors are allowable for person(s) with disabilities," the website states.

Re-levy approved

Port of Allyn commissioners unanimously voted to re-levy $1,855.76.

Each year, the Mason County Treasurer makes adjustments to the tax rolls after taxes have been calculated and billed. If the changes result in a net decrease, the port can impose a refund levy to recover the lost amounts, Merrill told commissioners.

"You determine whether we re-levy the entire amount of lost revenue of $1,855 and change, we only re-levy a portion – we can go all the way up to that amount – or we can choose not to re-levy anything," Merrill said.

"I don't want to have to raise more taxes, but we do need the money. So I vote for the first item, which is reimburse," Commissioner Judy Scott said.

Commissioners Michael Curtain and John Sheridan agreed.

EV boat chargers not needed

Commissioners approved a $22,810 bid from DF Electric to replace six damaged electric pedestals on the port's dock, but nixed an additional $6,992 for one pedestal with an EV boat charger.

Merrill called it a "gimmick."

Scott asked if it was worth pursuing a grant for the charges.

"Maybe in the future, but not now," Merrill responded.

He said there's no demand for electric boat charging at the Allyn dock.

"Are there very many EV boats out there?" Curtain asked.

Merrill said there were some, "but we haven't seen any in our waterways."

Scott said the only way she would support the cost is if the port obtained a grant.

Merrill said the port could look into it when the pedestals at the North Shore dock need replacing in a few years because that location sees more recreational boating.

No Grassroots Learning lease

The port will not be leasing their meeting space to Grassroots Learning, Merrill told commissioners.

"The day we talked about it in the meeting their neighbors moved out," Merrill said. "It was too good of an opportunity for them to have double their space right there," he said.

At the Oct. 28 special meeting, Merrill said the family-based education co-op wanted to rent the port's meeting room three or four days a week as a primary schooling location for no more than 20 children.