Port of Chehalis Sets Organizational Goals for 2018

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The Port of Chehalis commissioners on Thursday agreed to a set of organizational goals to guide the entity through the 2018 year.

The goal setting takes place every year and is used to plan what projects the port will pursue. Progress on the goals is also taken into account at the end of the year when commissioners evaluate port CEO Randy Mueller’s performance.

Below is the list of goals agreed to by the commissioners:

• Substantially complete construction of the $3.2 million Maurin Road Industrial Site project: Deemed the largest project the port has ever taken on, work at the site that could include the construction of two large building pads is scheduled to take place this summer. Last year, the port was awarded a $2.8 million grant for the project. 

• Seek public feedback and adopt the five-year revision of the port’s Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements: The plan was last updated in 2013. A public hearing and tentative adoption of the comprehensive plan is scheduled for the Feb. 8 port meeting.

• Create and implement a new farming plan for port properties: The farming plan will focus on maintaining certain port properties and aims to stop the deterioration of wetland conditions. 

• Plan the construction of a new industrial building: Port commissioners decided earlier this month they did not want to proceed with the purchase of a 10,000 square-foot industrial building on Bishop Road which was constructed by the Industrial Commission. Instead, the port will look into possibly constructing its own building to lease out, but the decision will come down to the cost of the project. 



• List port properties for lease and sale on commercial real estate websites like LoopNet and CoStar: Mueller, who is also a licensed retail broker, will list the commercial site properties on the websites instead of working through a broker to complete the work. 

• Plan first joint fiber construction project with the Lewis County Public Utility District and seek grant funding: The port is working with the PUD to identify commercial and industrial zones that could benefit from high speed internet.

• Plan and seek funding for flood prevention projects affecting the Chehalis Industrial Park area that are identified by the port as desirable: Data is being compiled to come up with a list of projects that could include culvert replacements or drainage improvements. 

• Update port design guidelines for industrial areas: The guidelines will be incorporated into the comprehensive plan and include items like landscaping, parking, setbacks, lighting and sidewalks.

• Inventory industrial and commercial properties in the port district to identify marginal lands suited for investment: The port is working to identify lands that could become an industrial development district, which can be utilized to spur economic development on properties that are deemed to be of marginal land quality. 

• Present comprehensive port marketing plan to port commission for input and direction: Commissioners would like to obtain metrics to evaluate how effective the port’s marketing efforts are.