The workshop is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. in the commission room at the Port of Woodland office.

The School District will have 15 minutes to make a general presentation of the facts, followed by a debate of parties from both the “Yes” and “No” sides of the issue, which will each make presentations of no more than 15-minutes. The commission will also have time to ask questions of all of the involved parties.

Because the election for the bond is schedule for April 17, should the commission choose to take an action regarding a position on the bond, it will do so at the end of this workshop.

The workshop is open to the public. The port’s commission room has a maximum capacity of 49, so admittance will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

The deadline for submitting proposals is noon on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012.

In approving the financial plan, which totals $1,066,647.77 in 2012 – up from $990,918.24 in 2011 – the port commission was pleased to see the revenues earned from property and building leases in the port’s agricultural and industrial land and buildings.

Lease revenue is projected to reach $654,292 in 2012. Add a guarantee of $100,000 in sand sales, and tax and fee revenues and the port’s total revenue balances with the expense side of the budget.

The port commission also adopted a Resolution to request a tax levy of $200,000 in 2012, which is $16,000 less than 2011, and reduces the tax rate from 19 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2011 to 18 cents per $1,000 in 2012.

“It is one of the commission’s stated goals to reduce the port’s property tax each year, if possible,” Executive Director Nelson Holmberg said. “The commission also has set a policy that we only use these taxes to pay for capital development, debt repayment or environmental cleanups, and we have development plans for 2012.”

Revenue growth is shown in the 2012 preliminary budget is due to the port’s ability to attract new tenants in 2011. In August, Noahs Ark Charters moved into the port’s 17,700 square foot building on Schurman Way, and with a new tenant coming next week, the port currently has a 100 percent occupancy rate in its light industrial space.

The 2012 port budget includes expenses planned for a comprehensive maintenance review and repairs (as needed) at the Down River Drive Industrial Park and a road improvement project in the light industrial area. The port also expects to use outside services for a 2012 feasibility study for construction of a boat launch.

TO SEE THE PORT’S 2012 BUDGET, CLICK HERE FOR A PDF.

ABOUT THE PORT OF WOODLAND

The Port of Woodland owns more than 300 acres of property for light industrial and recreational opportunities in south Cowlitz County along the Columbia and Lewis rivers. The port’s location provides easy access to Interstate 5, rail transportation on the BNSF Railway north-south mainline, and is close to deep draft marine terminals at three major shipping ports. The Port of Woodland is also less than 30 minutes from Portland International Airport and is included within the Portland-Vancouver USA metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

– POW –

The 2012 budget totals $1,066,647.77, including a reduction of the port’s property tax request from 2011’s $216,000 to $200,000 in 2012. Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the budget, and consider adoption of the final budget at its December 15 meeting.

“It is one of the port commission’s stated goals to reduce the port’s property tax each year, if possible,” Executive Director Nelson Holmberg said. “And the commission has set a policy that we only use these taxes to pay for capital development, repayment of debt or environmental remediation.”

Revenue growth is shown in the 2012 preliminary budget is due to the port’s ability to attract new tenants in 2011. In August, Noahs Ark Charters moved into the port’s 17,700 square foot building on Schurman Way, and the port recently reached agreement on a lease to fill the only remaining square footage of space on port property.

“As it stands right now, we’ll enter 2012 with 100 percent occupancy in our industrial parks,” Holmberg said.

The port budget also includes expenses planned for a comprehensive maintenance review and repairs (as needed) at the Down River Drive Industrial Park. The port also expects to use outside services for a 2012 feasibility study for construction of a boat launch.

The budget can be reviewed by clicking here, or by visiting the port office at 115 Davidson in downtown Woodland.

The workshop is set for 3:30-5 p.m. at the Port of Woodland office (115 Davidson in downtown Woodland).

The workshop is an information forum for the port commission, business and community leaders, as well as citizens with an interest in learning more about the project. No action will be taken by the commission on this topic.

Presenters will include Bart Gernhart of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Jerry Sorrell, project manager for the study of the project that has already been completed. Rosemary Siipola, transportation planner/manager for the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments will also be a part of the presenting team.

The Scott Avenue Reconnection would open a third undercrossing of Interstate 5 for residents of Woodland. It is a safety, congestion relief and freight mobility project.

The port’s commission room comfortably seats 30 people, so RSVPs would be appreciated. You can RSVP for this meeting by calling the port office at 360-225-6555 or emailing info@portofwoodland.com.

ABOUT THE PORT OF WOODLAND

The Port of Woodland, which celebrated its 50th year in 2010, owns more than 300 acres of property for light industrial and recreational opportunities in south Cowlitz County along the Columbia and Lewis rivers. The port’s location provides easy access to Interstate 5, rail transportation on the BNSF Railway north-south mainline, and is close to deep draft marine terminals at three major shipping ports. The Port of Woodland is also 30 minutes from Portland International Airport and is included within the Portland-Vancouver USA metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

– POW –

AT A GLANCE

WHO: Port of Woodland
WHAT: Commission Workshop: Informational Meeting regarding proposed Scott Avenue Reconnection Project
WHERE: Port of Woodland Office, 115 Davidson, downtown Woodland
WHY: An information forum for the port commission, business and community leaders, as well as citizens with an interest in learning more about the project
QUICK FACTS: The Scott Avenue Reconnection would open a third undercrossing of Interstate 5 for residents of Woodland . . . The project is to improve safety, freight mobility and relieve congestion

WOODLAND, Wash. – The Port of Woodland Board of Commissioners has announced its July 21 regular meeting will be held in Ariel, Wash.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Cowlitz-Skamania Fire District No. 7 fire station, located at 11670 Lewis River Road.

“It is important to all of us that the commission provides an opportunity for the folks who live in the Lewis River Valley part of our port district to attend a port commission meeting,” said Commission President Paul Cline. “It’s our goal to be accessible to as many as possible in sharing with our district of the work that the port does.”

An agenda for the meeting will be distributed, and posted on the port’s website, during the week before the meeting.

ABOUT THE PORT OF WOODLAND
The Port of Woodland, which celebrated its 50th year in 2010, owns more than 300 acres of property for light industrial and recreational opportunities in south Cowlitz County along the Columbia and Lewis rivers. The port’s location provides easy access to Interstate 5, rail transportation on the BNSF Railway north-south mainline, and is close to deep draft marine terminals at three major shipping ports. The Port of Woodland is also 30 minutes from Portland International Airport and is included within the Portland-Vancouver USA metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

AT A GLANCE

WHO:    Port of Woodland
WHAT:    July 21 Commission Meeting
WHERE:    11670 Lewis River Road, Ariel
WHY:    Providing access to port commissioners and staff for residents of the east end of the Port District
QUICK FACTS:    The Port of Woodland Board of Commissioners meets in the Lewis River Valley once a year

– POW –

The Columbian
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/22/bus-business-signs-lease-move-port-property/

Coach company moving into new Port of Woodland building

Longview Daily News
June 21, 2011
http://tdn.com/news/local/article_e986cdb2-9ba0-11e0-883b-001cc4c002e0.html

Bus company signs deal with Port of Woodland

The Daily Insider
June 21, 2011
http://www.dailyinsider.info/bus-company-signs-deal-with-port-of-woodland/

Noahs Ark – owned by Noah and Pat Wessinger of Woodland – has announced it will move into the port’s vacant building at 1670 Schurman Way in Woodland, effective August 1, after the Port of Woodland Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a lease with the company at its regular meeting on Thursday, June 16.

The lease is for seven years and Noahs Ark has said its intent is for a long-term partnership with the port.

Noahs Ark is moving into the port’s newest facility, which was built in 2009 and covers nearly four acres of property in the port’s Schurman Way Industrial Park in northwest Woodland, less than one mile from access to Interstate 5.

Noahs Ark is a Woodland-based company that brings 42 jobs, including 25 coach operators, and has seen continued growth even during the recent recession. The company recently purchased a number of new and previously owned coaches, to respond to needs of the growing business.

For more information, please visit the port’s website at www.portofwoodland.com, or the Noahs Ark website at www.noahsbus.com.

ABOUT THE PORT OF WOODLAND

The Port of Woodland, which celebrated its 50^th year in 2010, owns more than 300 acres of property for light industrial and recreational opportunities in south Cowlitz County along the Columbia and Lewis rivers. The port’s location provides easy access to Interstate 5, rail transportation on the BNSF Railway north-south mainline, and is close to deep draft marine terminals at three major shipping ports. The Port of Woodland is also 30 minutes from Portland International Airport and is included within the Portland-Vancouver USA metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

– POW –