Downtown Chehalis
Port of Chehalis commissioners approved a resolution on Thursday that will allow the port’s CEO to sign a management agreement for a coworking space that will be jointly managed with the Chehalis Community Renaissance Team.
The agreement for the building at 478 N. Market Blvd., Chehalis, outlines the duties of both parties.
The two-year pilot project will provide a shared working space for professionals in downtown Chehalis. Desk space can be rented by the day, week, or month.
“Everything is on track for what would hopefully be a first quarter opening next year,” Randy Mueller, CEO of the port, said.
Under the agreement, the port will be responsible for the property, as well as utility payments, maintenance and janitorial services, while CCRT will manage the space, market it, take reservations and collect the money.
The expenses and revenues will be split 50-50 between the two partners on an annual basis.
The port purchased the building earlier this year for $115,000 in funds allocated through the distressed counties fund. Another $10,000 of distressed counties monies was earmarked for any remodeling costs.
During the Thursday meeting, port commissioners received an update on several property purchases that are currently being discussed. No final decisions were made as negotiations continue.
The first is for a 10,000-square-foot industrial building constructed by the Industrial Commission on Bishop Road. The sale of the building at 123 Habein Road to Allied Mineral is also still in discussions, as is the sale of the Curtis Rail Line that the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum’s steam train operates on.
CCRM has expressed a desire to purchase the rail line after the port decided it wanted to sell the property because of certain liabilities the rail line presents.
Mueller stated the port plans to get an appraisal for the value of the line, and also plans to move forward with an economic impact study to see how the steam train affects the local economy.
The information will be used to determine if the rail line can be sold to CCRM at less than fair market value by illustrating the positive economic impacts to surrounding areas.
In other port news, Rick Rouse, senior director of operations at the port, received the commission’s approval to join the Habitat Work Group that addresses salmon habitat in a three-county area of Lewis, Thurston and Pacific counties. Rouse stated the benefit of the position is that the port will be at the table in an advisory role when it comes to issues related to salmon habitat that could affect port properties.
Rouse also provided an update on a project that will reduce field flooding to a parcel of port property located on Rush Road. Extensive work has been completed to clear a historic ditch that was likely created back in the 1940s. The reestablished ditch now funnels water into Burwick Creek, “where it belongs,” Rouse said. Prior to that, the water flowed through a number of other ditches and flooded a parcel along Rush Road.
“This has been bugging us for a decade basically,” Commissioner Mark Giffey said, while thanking Rouse for the work he completed.
