Slip sliding away
Courtesy photo
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Drivers heading through Shelton on State Route 3 can expect ongoing delays as the Washington State Department of Transportation works to stabilize an eroding slope adjacent to Oakland Bay near the Shelton Yacht Club. The slope began to give way Friday afternoon before the roadway was closed to one lane. A 75-foot-long section of the shoulder has sloughed approximately 6 feet at the site, and there is no estimate on how long repairs will take to complete.
Journal photo by Natalie Johnson
Dick Taylor, Port of Shelton commission chair, asked for clarification in some parts of the port’s draft Forest Management Plan update.
Port sets public hearing to amend forest plan The Port of Shelton commission further discussed a plan to sell 100 acres of port-owned timber Tuesday. The commission also set a public hearing for Tuesday, April 3, to hear public comment on proposed changes to its Forest Management Plan. “On the 21st of February we had a conversation about doing a timber harvest on Johns Prairie,” port Executive Director John Dobson said. At that meeting, the port commission heard a presentation from Joe Staley of North Wind Timber Consultants on the feasibility of harvesting 100 acres of timber at the port’s Johns Prairie Industrial Site. Dobson said the port needed to take several steps before it could receive bids and approve the sale of the timber. First, the port needs to update its Forest Management Plan, Dobson said. Engineering technician Brandon Palmer provided the port commission with an updated version of the plan during its meeting on Tuesday. He said many of the changes to the plan, which hadn’t been updated since 2002, were to clean up difficult-to-understand language. Palmer’s draft of the plan also includes updated information about laminated root rot on the property, tree thinning and the size of trees on the property.
While the port has determined that the commission legally does not need to hold a public hearing, Commissioner Jay Hupp said he would feel better if the commission received comments on the plan from the public. “It’s in my mind a fairly significant change,” he said. “I would like to see this go to a public hearing. I feel like I need public input.” Dobson said the updated draft plan would be available on the port’s website. Commission Chair Dick Taylor also asked for some clarification in the document, particularly in in-
stances of timber vernacular, which he said might be confusing for members of the public. After approving the forest plan update, the port commission will need to approve a resolution to surplus the timber, and go into executive session to discuss the minimum bid amount that the port will accept. The commission plans to discuss those issues at a later date. After it passes the resolution and agrees on a minimum bid, the port will have the option to ask for bids on the timber, Dobson said.
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natalie@masoncounty.com
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By NATALIE JOHNSON
Located at Sanderson Industrial Park 8761
427-8084
Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, March 22, 2012 - Page A-5