Speaking Of Upcoming Port Elections, How Is It The Incumbent Port Commissioners Sandbagged On This Opprtunity To Deny Us Good, Long-Term, Family Wage Jobs For Many Of Us?

Port wants to ride the green tide
Commission forms partnership with start-up shipping company, pursues federal grant to build one or two cargo ships

By JOE GAMM
The Daily Astorian

A national push for greener transportation could bring cargo through the Port of Astoria again.

The Port is partnering with a start-up shipping company and pursuing a federal grant to build one or two small container ships that would transport cargo up and down the West Coast, and as far up the Columbia River as Lewiston, Idaho.

Port leaders and Santa Maria Shipping, LLC, of Santa Rosa, Calif., are trying to tap into $575 billion of stimulus funding. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program is intended to improve economic competitiveness and reduce congestion on U.S. highways. Minimum grant size for the projects is $20 million.

One aspect of the TIGER grant is to lighten traffic on highways and move freight to more fuel-efficient ships that will cut carbon emissions and save shippers money.

The Port's proposed project would include construction of the two ships and a rail head at North Tongue Point. The 400-foot ships would be capable of carrying up to 125 cargo boxes up and down the West Coast. And their 14-foot draft would allow them to go up the Columbia River to Lewiston, Idaho. The estimated total cost for the ships is between $20 million and $40 million. Santa Maria is taking bids from three Northwest companies to build the ships.

The Port would own the ships and Santa Maria would be the leasing company.

Dan Snitchler, the company's vice president in charge of special projects, said about 100 cargo boxes per week have been "signed up for." Hundreds of boxes are already leaving Lewiston by truck or rail, headed for Europe.

"We believe that the marine highway is the wave of the future," Snitchler said.

Potential customers include Astoria Warehousing and Deals Only.

The ships could eventually move 5,000 container boxes between Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle each day.

Snitchler said at least one crane for Astoria would be included in the grant request. The estimated cost for the mobile, 80-ton-capacity crane is $4 million. The company intends to position cranes at other cities or "drop sites."

Santa Maria has been working with the Port of Astoria on business opportunities at North Tongue Point, where the company was looking to build a shipyard.

Port of Astoria Executive Director Jack Crider said Santa Maria is now dedicated to the current project.

"With mostly grants, there's not a lot of risk," Crider said. "Risk is not moving ahead. We learned the risk of not moving ahead with NOAA."

When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was looking for a new home for its Pacific fleet of research vessels, the Port jumped into the fray. But the Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR) determined that Astoria wasn't likely to land the fleet and the Port pulled out of consideration. NOAA decided to move the fleet to Newport.

"I wanted to put the facility here (on Pier 1) instead of Tongue Point," Crider said. "I wish we would have moved ahead and done it. Newport put together a great proposal."

Crider said the purchase of the Tongue Point property has taken a turn. The Port had been trying to buy the property from the Washington Group, a Montana-based company.

He said the Port is now considering a lease option, and fishing vessels out of Alaska will be showing up soon, looking for berths.

http://www.greenships.org/greenships.pdf

Clatsop County - WATER, SEWER SYSTEMS FOCUS OF DISASTER RESPONSE EXERCISE

Thursday, May 9, 2013

WATER, SEWER SYSTEMS FOCUS OF DISASTER RESPONSE EXERCISE

How will local cities, utility districts and other public agencies react when a major disaster disrupts water and sewer service on the northern Oregon Coast?

Local officials from Clatsop and Tillamook counties and representatives of state agencies and other organizations – 40 in all – gathered recently at Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center in Warrenton to review how well-prepared they are.

The April 17 table-top exercise was organized by Clatsop County’s Public Health Department and Emergency Management Division and facilitated by the University of Washington Northwest Center for Public Health Practice.

“We had participated in previous planning sessions but had never exercised a multi-disciplinary response to water sanitation issues,” Public Health Director Margo Lalich said. “This was a first for us and it was a huge learning moment.”

The exercise simulated a fictional earthquake and tsunami off the north coast of Oregon that would cause severe damage to water and sewer lines and treatment plants, knock out power and flood low-lying areas with contaminated water. Participants were asked to examine each other’s agency plans and policies and discuss ways to coordinate resources in response to such scenarios as handling illness from tainted water, reduced fire-fighting capability and service to evacuation shelters and vulnerable populations.

NWCPHP faculty member, Carl Osaki, developed and led the exercise and was pleased with the group’s progress. “Tabletops are a chance to identify gaps and that can be disconcerting. Most agencies don’t want to expose their vulnerabilities,” he said. “This group was willing to lay out their plans and tackle complicated issues.”

Along with the five incorporated cities, Clatsop County has 11 water districts and five sewer districts providing service to residents and businesses.

Maureen Sheffield-Taylor, Clatsop County Environmental Health Supervisor, said “this tabletop was a great start but it was just the beginning. Now we see how much more work we have to do.”

Released by: Tom Bennett

Community Relations Coordinator

(503) 338-3622

Clatsop County - BALLOT-COUNTING TEST SET FOR MAY 13

BALLOT-COUNTING TEST SET FOR MAY 13

Clatsop County Elections Division will conduct a public certification test of its vote-tally system on Monday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria in anticipation of the May 21 special district election.

A test is routinely performed prior to a county election and members of the public are invited to observe the process.

Released by: Tom Bennett

Community Relations Coordinator

(503) 338-3622

Special Work Session For CCBofC Set for April 18th

Special Work Session agenda for Clatsop County Board of Commissioners

Clatsop County To Reorganize/Streamline Administrative Operations

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION SAVES MONEY, STREAMLINES OPERATIONS A planned reorganization of some administrative offices proposed by Clatsop County Manager Scott Somers will save money while increasing efficiency, he said. On Wednesday the county Board of Commissioners held the first reading of an ordinance enacting the plan. A final vote is scheduled for April 24. The plan was prompted by the move in December of former Assistant County Manager Nicole Williams to the County Clerk position, and the departure of former Central Services Department Director Mike Robison in March. With two positions vacant, Somers looked at ways to streamline the county’s administrative functions by “flattening out” the chain of command while trimming spending in the face of looming cost increases in retirement and benefits for county staff. The plan is projected to save the county $265,704 in the 2013-14 fiscal year. Under the new plan, the Assistant County Manager and Central Services Director positions are eliminated. Two of the functions currently under Central Services will moved – Information Systems to the County Manager’s Office, and Building and Grounds to the Public Works Department. Central Services will be renamed the Budget and Finance Department and will focus on budget preparation and oversight, banking, payroll, revenue and expenditure monitoring and other fiscal duties. The County Manager’s Office, which currently oversees Emergency Management and Human Resources, will become the Administrative Services Department. The county Assessment and Taxation Department, which since 2010 was overseen by Robison, will again have its own director. The county will seek applicants for both the Budget and Finance director and Assessment and Taxation director positions. -30- Released by: Tom Bennett Community Relations Coordinator (503) 338-3622

Oregon Supreme Court Strikes Down Oregon LNG/Pipeline

Oregon LNG/Pipeline - Warrenton, Oregon Shot Down In Oregon Supreme Court

Columbia - Pacific Common Sense Meets March 21st and Other Upcoming Activist Events

Columbia Pacific Common Sense

Thursday, March 21st 

6:00  potluck snacks and socializing

6:30 - 8:00  meeting

1030 Duane in Astoria   

Dan Serres, Conservation Director of Columbia Riverkeeper (CRK), will provide legal updates and other news from LNG-land.  Whether you've been active from the beginning or are new to NO LNG, please attend and check out how you can make a difference!

Cheryl & Laurie

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS concerning our estuary as a conduit for fossil fuel exports:

 

Coal, Oil, and Gas, Oh My!

Lower Columbia River Community Conversation

 

Wednesday, March 13th

6:00 - 7:30

Skamokawa Grange

16 Fairgrounds Road, Skamokawa, WA

(take the 5:15 pm ferry from Westport)

The Columbia River faces unprecedented new proposals to export coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and crude oil to Asia. How will the new pipelines, trains, and tankers impact the estuary? Current plans could make the Columbia River the nation's largest exporter of coal, LNG, and oil.

This evening event will feature presentations on Columbia River water quality and new limits on toxic pollution as well as issues surrounding the use of the Columbia River as a fossil fuel highway. There will also be a moderated, open-forum discussion about local concerns and practical solutions.

Sponsored by Columbia Riverkeeper

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

Stop Coal Exports!

Rally at the Oregon State Capitol

WHO: YOU! And other Northwest citizens opposed to coal export.

WHAT: Rally and press conference on the Capitol steps

WHEN: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 (11:30AM-12:30PM)

WHERE: Oregon State Capitol Building (Salem) - Interested in a rideshare from Portland?  Meet at 1821 SE Ankeny, Portland, Oregon at 10AM.

The barges would take coal from a train-fed terminal at the Port of Morrow near Boardman to Port Westward near Clatskanie for loading onto sea-going ships.

Oregon state agencies are currently reviewing permits for Ambre Energy's coal export plan. The Oregon Department of State Lands has set April 1, 2013 as a decision date for their agency - they need to hear from us now! 

Highlights Of February 27, 2013 Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Meeting

Official minutes available once approved by board

Veterans program examined

During a work session the board heard a presentation from Veterans’ Services Officer Phil Simmons, who asked the commissioners to consider increasing his level of compensation under the veterans services contract.

Simmons, who took over the contract in 2011, said the position has required more work – an average of 35 hours a week – than he originally envisioned. Without an increase in the contract, he and his wife Buffy Simmons, who shares the program duties with him, would likely have to cut back on their hours, he said.

The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs provides $43,100 a year for the program. Clatsop County provides an additional $6,200.

The veterans’ services officer assists local military vets in applying for benefits through the federal Veterans Administration. Simmons said since he took over the contract, the total monthly payments coming to Clatsop County vets has increased from about $57,000 to $80,000. There are currently 4,518 veterans in the county, he said.

County Manager Scott Somers said staff would develop three funding options for the program contract and present them to the board at its March 27 meeting.

Other business

In other business the board:

-Approved an ordinance making “housekeeping” amendments to the county’s Land and Water Development and Use Ordinance and Standards document to clarify ambiguous language, further define procedures and correct references to state rules.

-Designated Human Resources Director Dean Perez as County Manager Pro Tem. Perez, who also serves as Emergency Management Director, will assume the duties of county manager in the event of the absence of County Manager Scott Somers. Finance Director Mike Robison was designated as alternate County Manager Pro Tem.

-Approved a letter of support for an application to the Business Oregon Industrial Lands Certification Program for the county’s North Coast Business Park in Warrenton. The program offers a statewide inventory of properties ready for industrial development.

-Approved a letter to Stimson Lumber company asking that it allow the Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club continued use of a small piece of Stimson property east of Arch Cape for a radio repeater.

Tom Bennett

Community Relations Coordinator

(503) 325-1000 ext. 1312