PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend commissioners learned staff is preparing paperwork for the acquisition of Short’s Family Farm, although the purchase is contingent on state funding.
Commissioners received an update on the purchase they had unanimously approved last week at their Wednesday meeting.
The port agreed Feb. 15 to pay the Shorts the full $1.4 million appraised value for their 253-acre farm at 1594 Center Road and to terms that included granting them a year in which to wrap up their farming operations.
The purchase is contingent on the port receiving $1 million in state funding.
Deputy Director Eric Toews said he and port attorney Seth Woolson were preparing documents they planned to deliver to the Shorts and their attorney within the next week.
“Obviously everything thereafter will depend on the success of obtaining funding support from the Legislature in this year’s budget,” Toews said.
“We remain really quite hopeful that that will prove to be the case and that in the not-so-distant future we will be mapping out a framework for developing a farm plan with resource agencies as well as the ag community.”
Commissioner Carol Hasse asked when the port might expect to hear if the funding request was successful.
“We won’t really know with any certainty, probably towards the end of May,” Toews said.
“But I think we’re going to get a feel for how we’re doing much sooner than that. I think we’re feeling positive about our chances of success.”
If they are successful, Toews said, the budget wouldn’t become effective until the state biennium that begins July 1.
Mike Chapman, the 24th District Democratic state representative from Port Angeles, is sponsoring the port’s proposal.
Commissioners also learned that work on the north jetty is almost complete, with just a few punch-list items remaining to be completed by Orion Marine Group.
The company will return after the Wooden Boat Festival ends Sept. 10 to start rebuilding the south jetty.
“A lot of lessons to be learned from this past construction season that will be applied to Phase 2 of project and seeking to squeeze every efficiency possible out of it,” Toews said.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@soundpublishing.com.
