Moses Lake port changes officers
Matthew Weaver/Columbia Basin HeraldDeparting Port of Moses Lake Commissioner Kent Jones conducts some final work before partaking in his farewell cake Wednesday afternoon in the Grant County International Airport conference room.
Commissioners, staff send Jones off with well wishes
MOSES LAKE - The Port of Moses Lake welcomes new officers and a new engineering firm in 2008, but bids farewell to a friend.
Wednesday's meeting of the board of commissioners in the conference room at Grant County International Airport marked the final meeting for Commissioner Kent Jones, who is ineligible for re-election because he moved out of Commissioner District No. 1.
Mike Conley replaces Jones in the position effective Jan. 1.
Many members of the port district staff and those in the audience used the opportunity to offer Jones a few parting words and well wishes.
Commissioners Larry Peterson and Delone Krueger both hugged Jones after he banged his gavel for the last time. The port presented Jones with a farewell cake.
"Thanks for your efforts and there have been times I wish we had chosen someone else," Krueger joked to longtime friend Jones. "I have really enjoyed working with you. You've been a great contributor to the port and made us think about things sometimes we needed to think about."
During the meeting, commissioners held their election of officers for the 2008 calendar year. Board Vice President Peterson assumes the presidency for the year, while Secretary Krueger becomes vice president. Conley will replace Krueger as secretary.
Commissioners briefly recessed the regular meeting to convene the Port of Moses Lake Public Corporation annual meeting.
For the corporation, Peterson again moves from vice president to president, Krueger from treasurer to vice president and Conley assumes the treasurer position. Port Executive Manager Craig Baldwin retains his position of secretary with the port public corporation.
Also during the meeting, commissioners approved selection of Corvallis, Ore.-based engineering firm David Evans and Associates as the port district's new primary engineer for the next three years.
The firm replaces CH2M Hill as the port's engineering firm.
"There are several reasons, but the main one was we're going to be faced with smaller projects here for the foreseeable future, because of our inability to qualify for federal funding in excess of $50,000," Peterson said.
Spokane-based USKH is the port district's back up firm in the event the primary engineer and a third party are not able to agree on price estimates for port projects.