Commissioners of Wahkiakum County Port District 2 held a special meeting last Friday to consider two items: 1. To settle a claim by West Side Water Works for two years of unpaid water usage at Skamokawa Vista Park, and 2. To consider new construction contracts to re-roof Vista Park’s out buildings

“We had five people show up at the job showing, and we received two bids,” said Park Manager Bob Robinson.

Robinson said one bid was from a local contractor, the other from a builder in Longview.

“The bids were from Prestegard Construction in Cathlamet; the other from WeatherGuard in Longview,” said Robinson, “and I was rather pleased with the outcome because they are within our budget.”

Robinson told Commissioners Kayrene Gilbertsen and Brian O'Connor that the contractors would both submit bid bonds and he would return the contractor’s check to the one that lost the bid.

Robinson offered commissioners the bids for review and O’Connor asked if each bid had been itemized. Robinson told them yes and said, “The winning contractor also has a performance bond that goes along with the contract.”

“So there is enough money to do all the buildings?” asked O’Connor. “That’s the most important thing.”

Robinson said yes and described the different options the park had in choosing the roofing materials.

Robinson recommended commissioners accept the Prestegard bid because it proposed a metal roof.

“Wow,” said O’Connor, “what a difference in cost. This is a no brainier, and it’s metal too?”

Robinson said yes. Gilbertsen agreed and said, “Yes, let’s keep the money local; he’ll (Prestegard) hire local people to work with him and he comes from a long family of carpenters and knows what he’s doing.”

O’Connor asked about the quality of the roofing and was told the metal roofing proposed for the out buildings was a painted 29-gauge material, perfect for a non-occupied space.

O’Connor moved to accept Prestegard Construction’s bid to re-roof all three of Vista Park’s out buildings and the park’s pump house for $21,403. Gilbertsen seconded the motion.

“The second thing on our agenda is, I’ve been talking with Jon Peterson (West Side Water Works President) about settling our bill,” O'Connor said.

He added that he couldn’t remember the original number presented to the park by West Side Water with regard to its arrearage but thought it was in the neighborhood of $12,000.

“We hadn’t received a bill from West Side for the past two years,” said O’Connor, “and we potentially owed them $12,000. I told Jon we could only pay that on the payment plan.”

O’Connor said he told Peterson he thought the $12,000 figure was too high because the park’s water system had many leaks and had suffered a lot of negligence over the past few years.

“I asked Jon if we could pay them $6,000 and cash them out; he agreed,” said O’Connor.

O’Connor made a motion for Vista Park to settle with West Side Water Works for a one time payment of $6,000. Gilbertsen seconded the motion and the motion passed. O’Connor also said he was also negotiating with the water company for a flat commercial rate.

“That way we won’t have to pay for every hookup in the park,” he said.