Port to continue meetings by ZOOM

DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Commissioners agreed to meet using ZOOM instead of in-person to shelter against the covid variant, which has been present in the community.

The Board met by Zoom with Executive Director Jennie Dickinson for the monthly meeting on August 11. The meeting format was discussed and the Commissioners affirmed they would continue by Zoom as long as covid variant case counts are up in Columbia County. It is also advisable to utilize ZOOM because the Port boardroom has limited capacity, minimizing the ability to physically distance.

Finding an alternative location that can also effectively stream by Zoom is a challenge. Commissioner Sean Milligan suggested the guidelines had relaxed for public meetings for distancing and it could be worth considering moving meetings to be held in person especially since the public has expressed desire to attend.

Dayton resident Seth Murdock later affirmed that many in the community would attend if the meetings were in person and appealed to the Commission to consider changing the format. The Commissioners will continue to reassess the COVID situation monthly to consider a format change.

Broadband can now move forward since the Port has been awarded the $2 million grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) and Dickinson can focus on securing the rest of the $500,000 match requirement.

Dickinson was scheduled to present to the Dayton City Council later that day to appeal for $330,000 of their $340,000 American Recovery Program Act (ARPA) funds. (See page 1 story.)

She had previously secured $68,500 from various sources and is also waiting on the County to decide if the County Commissioners will give $100,000 of the county’s ARPA funds that she requested at a recent County Commissioners meeting. Dickinson assured both entities that broadband is an approved use of those funds.

The Commissioners approved a letter to be sent to the Port of Walla Walla Commissioners asking for a meeting to discuss the rail line with the rail operator and local companies that utilize the rail. The hope is to discover if the Walla Walla County Port will work towards obtaining funding to build a rail connection to Port Kelley along the Columbia River that is within their county and if this would motivate the local companies to use the rail over road for transporting their goods.