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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 — (J)
PeninsulaNorthwest
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Composites center on its own at PA airport — with oversight retain responsibility for launching it. “They will be held accountable PORT ANGELES — It’s on its because in the public’s mind, this own now. Almost. is a port initiative to give birth The Composite Recycling and send it on its way,” Calhoun Technology Center is a child no said Tuesday during the port longer of the Port of Port Angeles. commissioners’ regular meeting. It’s a tenant, albeit a nonprofit They and the composites center corporation, with its own board of board also must walk a line directors. between public transparency and “Once we say, ‘We do,’ you proprietary obligations to the prido,” Port President Jim Hallett vate firms that will supply it with told the center’s board chairrecycled carbon-fiber composite man, Robert Larsen, on Tuesday, in effect saying the center’s material — a lightweight, extremely strong plastic — and success was in its own hands. that hope to manufacture new The port, however, will subsimerchandise from it. dize the center’s rent until it That issue arose Tuesday when begins making money and will port commissioners waived revealprovide economic development services in the person of Jennifer ing what would amount to manufacturing and marketing secrets. States. “Securing supply is very, very States is the port’s director of critical,” Larsen said about the business development, and her source of carbon-fiber composites bosses said she’ll give half her material the center hopes to time to the composites center, recycle. most heavily in its first two The identity of those compayears, and less of her work for nies — and possible customers the next three. who would manufacture new merchandise from the recycled Political issue material — mostly have been Yet the center will remain a hidden in nondisclosure agreepolitical issue, said port Commis- ments between the firms and the sioner John Calhoun, while taxport. payers wait for it to deliver its “We decided to play it safe and promised 340 direct and spun-off keep things on a pretty general jobs. level,” Larsen said. “What we want is for you to come back and say, ‘We need so Suppliers revealed many thousand square feet of Some of that veil was parted building to house all the new jobs during Monday’s groundbreaking we are attracting,’ ” Hallett said. ceremony inside the building at And whether or not they 2220 W. 18th St., the vacant directly control the center’s future, port commissioners will 25,000-square-foot shell that will BY JAMES CASEY
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
he center will remain a political issue, said port Commissioner John Calhoun, while taxpayers wait for it to deliver its promised 340 direct and spun-off jobs.
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house the center’s recycling equipment, classrooms and laboratories for Peninsula College’s advanced materials-composites classes, and startup space for manufacturers. Toray Composites America Inc., which makes all the carbonfiber material for the Boeing 787, participated in the ceremony and revealed itself as a supplier of composite scrap. Another company mentioned during the groundbreaking was Janicki Industries. It produces composite tools, parts, patterns and molds at its 216,000-square-foot facility in Sedro-Woolley and 154,000-square-foot factory in Hamilton, both in Skagit County, and at its 100,000-square-foot facility in Layton, Utah. Toray Composites employs 400 people in Tacoma. Janicki Industries employs 600 people at its three sites. The composites center hopes to provide 340 direct and spunoff jobs at its building on the Composites Manufacturing Campus at William R. Fairchild International Airport. Although the jobs will be in
Clallam County, intellectual property developed by the center could provide work elsewhere. To tie licensing fees to Clallam County employment would create “a significant barrier to developing any intellectual property,” Larsen said. Net revenue from such fees, however, must be reinvested inside the county, according to a 15-year-long requirement in a $1 million grant the center received from the state Economic Development Administration.
Funding The center also received $2 million in federal funds and $1 million from Clallam County. Simon Barnhart, the port’s attorney, said the center would be treated like any other port tenant. That wasn’t quite enough to satisfy Hallett. “We want a sense of publicly transparent confidence that the agreement is delivering results,” he said. States responded by saying port commissioners would receive audits and regular progress reports. Yet the port “has a special interest in the success of this project,” Calhoun said. “We have to have some sort of overview because there are major elements of public interest that we are pledged to protect.”
_______ Reporter James Casey can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jcasey@peninsuladailynews.com.
Land: Resolution set a PT hearing date CONTINUED FROM A1 the ordinance after the public hearing,” Timmons said. “We haven’t used emi“This resolution only sets a hearing date. It does nent domain since I got not authorize or require the here [in 1999], but it’s use of eminent domain,” important that we have a according to the agenda bill. tool to address these cir“That will be decided by cumstances.” council when it considers Timmons said all prop-
erty owners would be fairly compensated for their land at or above current market rates. “We need this prior authorization in case we get delayed in property acquisitions because of some complications,” Timmons said
before the council meeting. “Ultimately, we need to preserve the timing of the project.” One option would be to take the property owner to court to force the sale, which City Attorney Steve Gross said is unlikely.
Complications could occur if there is a lien on any of the properties, Timmons said.
________ Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360385-2335 or cbermant@peninsula dailynews.com.
Forum: Candidates debate their merits CONTINUED FROM A1 “We will have to do a lot more cutting of lots of stuff,” Talley said. Both candidates acknowledged that raising rates could cause some tenants to leave but said there is enough of a waiting list to fill any empty spaces that might occur. “It’s important to keep the moorage rates compatible with the cost of living in Jefferson County,” Talley said. Talley said she agreed that the Boat Yard needs a wider boat ramp, now under development, but feels that replacing the ramp at this time gives those outside of the city limits short shrift.
Jefferson County are trailer boats, and most of them come to Port Townsend,” he said. “The reason that we started here is because this is where the action is and we have facilities, hotels Boat launches that you can stay in and restaurants that you can “The four launches in eat in.” the county — Quilcene, Port Ludlow, Marrowstone and Due in early 2016 Gardiner — are all in need of repair, which should be Tucker said the project, done before we build due for completion in early another ramp with the pur- 2016, has taken longer than pose of building tourism for expected because the port Port Townsend,” she said. was awaiting a $329,000 Tucker said the Boat grant from the state RecreHaven ramp’s construction ation and Conservation priority was based on the Office that is going toward number of customers. the total $450,000 cost. “Nine out of 10 boats in The grant money comes “The people I am talking to while doorbelling are mad with a capital M that Port Townsend always get the jewels and the people in the county are neglected,” Talley said.
Death and Memorial Notice JAMES A. ‘JIM’ GAULT April 1, 1926 September 17, 2015 Sequim resident James A. Gault passed away at his home on September 17, 2015. An April Fools’ Day baby, Jim had to be delivered by his prankster father after the doctor refused to come, thinking it a joke. Born in Wenatchee, Washington, to Otis and Esther Gault, he spent his early childhood playing along the banks of Mission Creek, near Cashmere, Washington. The family eventually relocated to Port Angeles, where he attended grade school and Roosevelt High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and trained to
Mr. Gault become an airplane mechanic, stationed in Washington, D.C.; New Mexico; and Mississippi. Returning home, he worked as an independent logger for several years, then joined the Department of Fish and Wildlife, working out of the Dunge-
ness Fish Hatchery until his retirement. He enjoyed hunting trips with his family, fishing, crabbing and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Ellen, and two stepsons, Ken Rardin and David (Jeanne) Rardin; his four children, Terri (David) Thompson, Trudi (Alan) Hawley, Tom Gault and Jeff (Jeanette) Gault; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and his sister, Shirley (Gerard) Vergeer. Two brothers, Earl Gault and Norman Gault, preceded him in death, as did his parents. Graveside services will be held at Sequim View Cemetery, 1505 SequimDungeness Way, on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at 1 p.m. May you rest peacefully, out of pain, in the loving arms of God. We love you, Dad.
from a tax paid by trailer boat owners, Tucker said of the project. “They are paying 75 percent of the cost,” he said. The project was ready to go earlier this year, but the port was unable to secure the grant in time to accommodate a state-imposed “fish window” that begins each Feb. 15.
Improvements Talley said port infrastructure improvements have been neglected. “The port has been operating without a capital facilities plan and is fixing things as needed,” she said. “The needs haven’t been taken care of in a strategic way, and I believe that a lot of our infrastructure needs will be treated with duct tape and baling wire.” Said Tucker: “Duct tape and baling wire work very well in a lot of cases. “Admittedly, we don’t have a plan, and repairs are being completed on an ad hoc basis,” he added. “We’ve spent a lot of money keeping things going. We’ve done a lot of repairs on C and D dock, so things aren’t in as bad shape as you think.”
Death Notices Judy Ann Kaumans July 18, 1944— Sept. 20, 2015
Tucker said a facilities plan is in development and is scheduled for completion in early 2016 that will include an assessment of costs and a timeline as to when things need to be done. “After that is complete, we will be able to go forward with a fiscally responsible plan,” he said. Tucker, a retired business owner, said he will be in a better position to represent wide interests than Talley, who is a veteran of the maritime trades. “The board is made up of three voting commissioners, and the marine trades and moorage tenants are already well-represented on the board,” said Tucker in a reference to District 2 commissioner Brad Clinefelter. “Having two commissioners from a particular stakeholder group would allow that group to have a majority decision and essentially run the port.”
Keep balanced Tucker said his election “will keep the commission balanced.” Several times during the forum, Talley, who has worked in local maritime trades for 25 years, stressed the positive aspects of her maritime experience. “To be an effective port commissioner, you need some strong on-the-ground experience and know how the port operates,” Talley said. “You should learn to accept public input and go out and look forward, and be collaborative, cooperative and be able to plan ahead.”
Judy Ann Kaumans died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) at her Port Angeles home. She was 71. A complete obituary will follow. Services: Private. ________ Drennan-Ford Funeral Jefferson County Editor Charlie Home, Port Angeles, is in Bermant can be reached at 360charge of arrangements. 385-2335 or cbermant@peninsula www.drennanford.com dailynews.com.
Xi says ‘without reform,’ no progress BY GENE JOHNSON AND PHUONG LE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday addressed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, billionaire investor Warren Buffett and other top American and Chinese business leaders, vowing that his country would work to remove barriers to foreign investment and improve intellectual property protections. Xi’s conference with the business leaders in Seattle marked the beginning of a busy day. He also toured the Boeing production facility in Everett and visited the Microsoft campus along with a high school in Tacoma. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Jack Ma of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba also were among the 30 executives who attended a closed-door discussion moderated by former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that preceded Xi’s address.
Remove barriers Xi told the group in a speech that was open to media that China’s economy has “big potential” and leaders will continue to remove barriers to foreign investment. “Without reform, there will be no driving force; without opening up, there will be no progress,” Xi said through an interpreter, echoing remarks he made during a speech Tuesday. “There is good news, and I believe there will be more good news in the future.” Xi attributed the Chinese economy’s “moderation in speed and downward pressure with some ups and downs in the stock market” to three factors: world economic problems, proactive Chinese efforts at regulation and “protracted structural problems” in China. But, he said, “I believe in the long run that the fundamentals of the Chinese economy are good.”
Treaty A big item of concern for the American CEOs was a treaty that would provide a framework for broader investment in the economy of each nation. All of the American CEOs participating in the forum signed a letter to Xi and President Barack Obama urging them to support an agreement, and they heard encouraging words from Xi on the topic Wednesday. “Once concluded, the treaty will further ease market access and put in place more open and transparent market rules,” he said. Bilateral investment treaties provide rules for companies doing business in other countries. The agreements can help ensure the rights of foreign investors are protected and that foreign companies operate on a level playing field with domestic ones. An agreement with China could open up more of that nation’s massive market to American companies, provide clearer rules for Chinese investment in the U.S. and create jobs in both countries, supporters say. Such treaties “can be a powerful catalyst for more economic growth,” said Evan Feigenbaum, vice chairman of the Paulson Institute, which co-hosted the meeting. Representatives of Twitter, Facebook and Google were notably missing from the event. China blocks those companies’ websites. Earlier Wednesday, it was announced that Chinese companies have agreed to buy 300 jets from Boeing.