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a journeyman fitter, signed on with Nichols in 1986 but even after all that time the security that comes with knowing what’s ahead can’t be underestimated. “It’s a nice thing to know what the future is, that
you’re going to have a job,” Hawkins said. “Still in business and rockin’ and rollin’,” echoed Casey Willamson, a fitting supervisor. “We got lots of work ahead of us.” Nichols Brothers is currently wrapping up work on the superstructure of a 144car state ferry, the second the shipbuilder has complet-
ed in recent years. It ships out for final assembly by Vigor Industrial, the Seattle firm building the vessel’s hull, on Dec. 19. Comparatively, Nichols said the three new projects are ideal for the Freeland shipyard, both in terms of size and the type of vessel. “We’re in the sweet spot right now with lots of work, and the right kind of work,” Nichols said. The first vessel, a 100-foot tractor tug, is a familiar build for the shipyard — it’s the ninth Nichols Brothers has put together since 2006. It’s being built for Bay Delta Marine, based out of San Francisco, Calif. The second project, a 150foot landing craft, is being constructed for Bowhead Transport. Bound for Alaskan waters, the vessel will operate as a supply
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owns 22 acres near Strawberry Point and was hoping to start a growing business under the new law. “If I get it by Jan. 1, I won’t be able to start
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Nichols Brothers worker Choy Saephan walk up a ramp to the hull of a new tractor tug. The superstructure of a state 144-car ferry is in the background. ship for coastal villages of the North Slope Borough, between the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Finally, Wahkiakum County has awarded Nichols a contract to build a 23-car, 100-passenger ferry
to operate between existing terminals at Puget Island in Cathlamet, Wash., and Westport, Ore. The project has special meaning for Nichols because the ferry being replaced was built by his
doing anything until May,” Youngblood said. “For anyone who wants to participate … they are coming in at the end of things.” Youngblood said the commissioners’ actions will cause businesses to start in other counties in order to keep a competitive edge. The result will be a loss of valuable tax revenue, he added. He also owns property in King County and is considering applying for a license there instead. Price Johnson, who has advocated for shortening the six-month moratorium, suggested they hand the
issue over to the planning commission with a charge to expedite the process. “I do feel a sense of urgency in moving forward,” Price Johnson said. “There’s a perception that we’re just going to kick the can down the road.” Many of the questions posed by local entrepreneurs were answered by Planning Director David Wechner at Wednesday’s meeting. Wechner said that licensed medical marijuana dispensaries can also apply for a recreational license. Growers can produce both types of marijuana on a single
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grandfather, company founder Mark Nichols, in the early 1960s when the yard was still located in Oregon. “The first-generation Nichols built the first one and the third and fourthgeneration Nichols are building the second,” said Nichols, his face stamped with family pride. The yard is also working on two small projects: a 10-foot extension of a fishing boat and the re-powering of a large catamaran. According to Nichols, the projects will allow the company to hire about 30 new employees, bringing the current workforce up from about 220 to about 250. All the projects are scheduled to be completed in 2014.
property but the operations must be completely separate, Wechner said. The same is true for businesses that want to process marijuana for distribution — the operations must be separate. One of the largest concerns that was voiced was whether or not the state would approve licenses in counties with moratoriums. Wechner said he believes the state will do so and the allotted four dispensaries slotted for Island County will not go to other counties. Currently, the state is allowing for one dispensary in Oak Harbor and three county-wide. Johnson, who has been a proponent of the moratorium, felt it was important to involve the public in deciding where these businesses can exist. “The answers to these questions make me more certain it’s the right thing to do,” Johnson said. “We’re talking about how we’re using our land and how we zone. We need time to go through that public process.”
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