In their bi-weekly meeting at the Port of Centralia on Wednesday, port commissioners gathered with members of the public to discuss issues ranging from affordable housing to abandoned RVs being left in vacant lots the port is responsible for.
The commission began the meeting listening to public comments, which ranged from wondering why there is no list of properties currently for sale, concern over a lack of transparency and a desire from the public to see the port update its website.
Port of Centralia Executive Director Kyle Heaton then began discussing some issues that had been brought to his attention, including abandoned RVs.
Homeless enforcement actions occurring north of Lewis County have forced people to begin moving south, he said. With Centralia on the main interstate route, it’s no surprise that some of these vehicles are being abandoned in this area, he said.
“We’ve seen them along Harrison (Avenue) showing up and we’ve made arrangements to tow,” Heaton said. “But every time the port has to tow one of these, it’s right around $700 out of the taxpayers’ wallets.”
Heaton warned that with the ongoing homeless enforcement actions in Thurston and Pierce counties, it is likely more RVs will be abandoned in the area.
One other issue, brought up by District 3 Commissioner Peter Lahmann, was the lack of affordable housing in Centralia.
“I see pieces of property we’ve bought in the past that were R:8 (moderate density residential district) zoned, and then we take them up and now they’re port zoned. Which is fine, we’re gonna build businesses there, but we are not replacing the R:8 zoning,” Lahmann said.
Centralia isn’t the only area facing affordable housing issues, as District 1 Commissioner Kyle Markstrom stated he’s heard from commissioners in other nearby communities that are in the same situation and are searching for solutions.
On a final note in port meetings held last month, Markstrom, who had proposed a possible censure resolution against Lahmann due to confidential information from a commission executive meeting being leaked on a Facebook group, ended up deciding against introducing the resolution to censure due to a lack of evidence.
“Markstrom said he would not introduce a resolution to censure any one of the commissioners, noting it may be necessary to conduct an investigation down the road,” wrote reporter Susan DeLaire, of Business to Business, in the most recent edition.
Also, on July 6, the commissioners approved WinCo Foods conceptual site plans which include an 85,000-square-foot facility coupled with 11,000-square-foot and 5,000-square-foot retail spaces.
