Commissioner Robert Stevens called the mailing to order at 7:20PM. Commissioner Jon Byerly and Port Manager Christine Phalen were in attendance. Commissioner Kelly was in a hospital and did not attend the meeting.

Guest present were Mr. Wendell, Jim Christen, Mr Young, Mr Brand Cary, Ken Jarstad, Bonnie Jarstad, Bob, Gossett, Deanna Gossett, Mervyn Clements, Deanna Saylor and E. J. Iddings.

1. Motion was made to accept minutes of February 3, 2004. The motion carried.

2. Motion was made to accept the vouchers as prepared. The motion carried.

Campground: Port Manager Christine Phalen reported she had $100.00 to bank and that $200.00 had been deposited from campground revenue and $225.00 rent on Port building this month.

Campground Information Board: There is a work party on April 10^th at 9AM to install the information board at the campground. Commissioner Byerly said the Port is in need of people to volunteer to help with the installation of the sign.

Commissioner Byerly said he had looked for correct RCW to place on the information board. It is necessary for the correct RCW is placed on the board which would give the Port the right to enforce the Park rules. The Port, then, can request the Sheriff’s officers to patrol the park.

Port Manager Phalen reported that Carl Demery, Road Foreman for Mason County Public Works, is retiring and we have a new road foremen taking over his position. Carl was to bring the new foremen by to introduce him.

Port Logo: Ken Jarstad said this is a difficult project, he said it has taken the better part of a year to design the logo. Commissioner Byerly had a business card with an interesting background. Commissioner Byerly said this design was in a word program. Question was raised as to the right to use this logo. Commissioner Byerly said he was going to discuss it with Ken Jarstad. This design is an MSN product.

Commissioner Stevens said in a couple more months we might have the design that will become the Ports logo.

Website: Web Master, Ken Jarstad, proposed adding a bulletin board software to our website. Commissioner Stevens thought there might be a problem with that. Ken said that might be a way for the Commissioners to communicate with each other. Commissioner Byerly said we would need to contact our attorney about communicating with each other outside of the public meeting.

Ken Jarstad said to send him the minutes in word process as an attachment works well for including on the website. He suggested we review the website as he had added other things on the site this month.

Comprehensive Plan: There is a special meeting scheduled for March 9, 2004 to discuss the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Byerly will moderate the meeting. He said he would provide flip charts and work through the issues that are of importance to the community. This will be the same format used at the previous planning meeting. He stated that it is important that the Port revisit this plan again with as much involvement from the community.

Commissioner Stevens reported that Port Manager Christine Phalen’s salary was increased $100.00. Commissioner Byerly stated that this was discussed in an Executive Session.

The Commission felt that a raise was in order as the Port Manager has more duties. The Port Manager had not received a raise for several years.

Commissioner Stevens asked if there were any questions or comments concerning the park. Question was raised if the park was ever full with Rvs. Port Manager Phalen stated that the park is often full.

Commissioner Byerly said that Belfair State Park is booked a year in advance. He also stated that both Belfair State Park and DNR refer people to Port of Dewatto Park when they are full. The question was asked as to the number of campsite were available. Port Manager Phalen stated there were 60 spots available.

Port Manager said she had called other parks to get a range of prices charged for camping. They range from $15.00 to $35.00.

Commissioner Byerly said the trend has been recreation and more county parks and state’s entities are turning property into parks. They are trying to preserve the lands and stop over development of the lands. The concept is that it enhances the area for the people coming into town and local communities. It also serves as protection that the lands are not going to be developed into commercial operations and other development not in keeping with the area.

Commissioner Byerly said he was interested in exploring the recreational potential for the Port of Dewatto as we have the ability to expand and with the demand rising for recreation this would be a natural move for the Port. He also stated that Belfair is particularly seeing the growth and there is on going efforts in the county for tourism development.

Commissioner Stevens reported that the Commission raised the park fees. Campsites with out electricity were raised to $12.00 and the kitchen and electric sites were raised to $15.00 each.

OPEN DISCUSSION: Commissioner Byerly asked the individuals from Tahuya if they would be interested in holding their Port meetings in our Port building. They thought that would be far away from Tahuya. Commissioner Byerly suggested they take the question back to the group to see what response they had.

The Commission is interested in finding other uses for the building to generate additional revenue for the Port.

Question was raised about Port Blakely land sale. Commissioner Byerly stated that DNR is working to stop the sale with the possibility of DNR purchasing the land to keep it in forest land instead of being developed.

Commissioner Stevens reiterated the need to continue work on the Comprehensive Plan. He stated that he has been a Commissioner for 2 years and we are still working on the same issues that he started with.

Commissioner Byerly stated he is working on many planning processes. He finds the most

(Minutes of March 2, 2004 meeting continued)

frustrating, for him is sitting as a Commissioner because he feels the citizens in this area do not understand the dynamics that is taking place in the state. He also stated that the Port of Dewatto needs to move ahead at a faster pace to implement a Comprehensive Plan to ensure good growth in the Port of Dewatto.

Commissioner Byerly would like to see the community help decide what is best for the growth of this area.

It was announced that Sally Lambert will head the Committee for Dewatto Daze. More information on this will be provided at future meetings.
 

Robert (Doug) Stevens, Chairperson

Lorraine Kelly, Commissioner

Jon Byerly, Commissioner

Christine F. Phalen, Port Manager