SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946 www.currypilot.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022
Brookings, Oregon
Port commission stops short of approving wastewater plant
Photos by Shawn Hedgecorth/The Pilot
The Port of Brookings Harbor Commission is trying to reach an agreement to build a wastewater plant at the port that would primarily benefit Pacific Seafood. The plant could also enable other companies to move in.
By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
The Port of Brookings Harbor Commission stopped short of approving a plan for a wastewater treatment plan after debating what the plant should look like and who should help pay for it. The commission agreed to continue researching the specifics before considering approving a plan in the near future. The wastewater treatment plant will be funded primarily
by the federal government after Congressman Peter DeFazio and the state's two senators pushed through federal funding in the recent spending bill signed into law by Pres. Joe Biden. Board member Kenneth Range made a motion to approve a plan, with specific requirements for Pacific Seafood, which will be the primary beneficiary of the plant when it opens. Range's requirements included: Signed agreement with Pacific Seafood to lease the treatment
plant long-term; Pacific Seafood agreement with Harbor Water Pacific Seafood must agree to pay a 20 percent match required by the grant and all costs of operation at the treatment plant; Pacific Seafood must negotiate a long-term lease with the harbor to operate the seafood processing plant. "There is absolutely no reason to build a fish processing plant if you don't have water," Range said. "Once there's a water
agreement in place, Pacific Seafood, in my mind, needs to have cash on the table. I don't agree with building a plant without a commitment from them. My idea is Pacific Seafood pays the 20 percent match for the grant." Range said Pacific Seafood must also have a federal permit and cannot discharge the waste into the Chetco River. Range's motion died for a lack of a second, but the debate continued.
Election forums to be held By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Pilot
More Wastewater, Page A10
A short stay in Brookings George Rhodes
Brad Alcorn Sandy Richard-Brown of Brookings saw this flotilla of surf scooter ducks in the North Jetty Cove while on a migration route. The males are black, the females are brown and one immature male was also seen. More Reader's Photos, Page A2
Marine patrols urge waterway safety JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media
Marine patrol members across Oregon and the Oregon Marine Board are urging safety as people head to local waterways for recreation this spring and summer. In the coming weeks more people will be pulling out their boats from winter storage in preparation for launch in the waters of this state. Rivers and the Pacific Ocean (even the surf zone) are the most inherently dangerous, according to the Oregon Marine Board. It's important to always scout ahead, mind the tide, decide on the safest route and expect the unexpected, the Oregon Marine Board states on its website, adding that most accidents and fatalities are due to falling overboard, collisions, and operator error/misjudgment, and reckless behavior. The state marine board urges
boaters and watercraft users to ask the themselves the following questions. Think about what you would do if you fell overboard. Could you self-rescue? What do you do if you're caught in a snag? What do you do if your boat swings around and the anchor line is near the prop? "Thinking is a necessity in boating. Act with intention. Be smart about your activity and understand how your activity impacts those around you," the Oregon Marine Board website reads. The Oregon State Marine Board contracts with 32 county sheriff's offices and the Oregon State Police to enforce boating laws and help patrol Oregon's waterways. The Marine Board provides state-of-the-art, hands-on training for marine law enforcement and provides
Please see Patrols, Page A3
Beth Barker-Hidalgo
Courtesy from the Oregon Marine Board
Most accidents and fatalities on Oregon's waterways are due to falling overboard, collisions, and operator error/misjudgment, and reckless behavior, according to the Oregon Marine Board.
The hotly-contested county commissioners race in Curry County will be the focus of a pair of election forums in the next few weeks. On April 18, the three candidates running for the Position 1 seat have been invited to Chetco Grange in Harbor for a forum to begin at 3 p.m. Pastor Rob Foster will moderate the event. On April 27, the League of Women Voters More Commissioners, Page A2
INDEX
Latest news can be found online at www.currypilot.com Call us: 541-813-1717 Fax: 541-813-1931
Crossword................................................ A11 Classifieds.......................................... A5 Crossword Answers............................ A7
$1.50 Online: www.currypilot.com