PORT ANGELES — Clallam County’s award-winning marine patrol unit is getting some new equipment for its border security operations.
The three commissioners Tuesday approved a $388,104 memorandum of agreement with the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound to pay for a new boat, trailer and training for the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit with a 2010 federal port security grant.
“We’re a partner in defending the border,” Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said.
The county is a sub-recipient of the grant with the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound, a nonprofit group that provides communication to its maritime members.
The Sheriff’s Office will use the long-range vessel for Homeland Security operations in the Strait of Juan de Fuca as well as recreational patrols.
Sell boat
The county likely will declare an existing 19-foot inflatable Zodiak that is used in the Strait as surplus property and sell it to another law enforcement agency.
The Sheriff’s Office has invested $14,000 to outfit the Zodiak for law enforcement functions.
“This boat will also be trailerable, as was the Zodiak, so that we can respond flexibly,” Benedict told the commissioners Monday,
“Any of the money that comes for training or travel or whatever will be used for existing staff.”
Benedict said the new boat will require no match with the port security grant.
Clallam County’s Marine Patrol Unit won the state Marine Law Enforcement Program of the Year award in 2009, besting 53 other agencies in the process.
The Marine Patrol Unit is seeking a 25- to 28-foot aluminum or fiberglass boat with a double- or triple-axle trailer.
The boat will have twin 150- to 200-horsepower outboard engines with an 85-gallon fuel tank. The Zodiak has a relatively short range because of its 16-gallon fuel tank.
The new vessel will be equipped with navigational equipment, a radar array and a pair of night vision goggles for the crew.
Once the county receives the federal dollars, the vessel and trailer will go out to bid.
Ready by summer?
Benedict said the new boat may be ready for use by this summer.
“We’ll continue to use the Boston Whaler for Lake Sutherland,” Benedict, referring to a refurbished 35-year-old aluminum boat used in safety patrols.
Commissioner Steve Tharinger, who is serving simultaneously as a state representative for the 24th District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula, took part in the county business meeting Tuesday and a work session Monday by speakerphone.
Districting commission
The commissioners appointed members to the districting commission, a five-member body that appoints a districting master to propose new boundaries for the three county districts, if necessary, when the 2010 census data is released this spring.
Tharinger appointed Earl Archer as District No. 1 representative. Commissioner Mike Chapman appointed Paul Martin for District No. 2. Doherty appointed Forks Mayor Bryon Monohon for District No. 3.
John Marrs was appointed by the Clallam County Democratic Party, and Eric Foth was appointed by the Clallam County Republican Party to the districting commission.
Clallam County charter requires the appointment of a districting commission every 10 years.
In other news, Laurel Black and Diane McGann were reappointed to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for terms that run through December 2013.
Pamela Schneider was appointed — and Troye Jarmuth was reappointed — to the Carlsborg Community Advisory Council on Monday to fill a quorum for a Monday committee meeting. Their terms will expire in June 2013.
Doherty said there are about 1,400 community members who volunteer their time on roughly 30 county advisory boards and committees.
He also added a letter of support to the agenda for state House Bill 1186 and an accompanying Senate bill that funds the oil spill prevention program within the state Department of Ecology.
Tharinger and state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, were co-sponsors of the bill.
The board approved the letter of support by a 3-0 vote.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
