Port of Othello funding request tabled

Othello council to review request in August

OTHELLO - Othello council tabled discussion Monday concerning providing partial infrastructure to the Port of Othello business park until the August retreat.

At a previous council meeting Port Manager Mike Beardsley asked council to consider funding half the cost of infrastructure for the 67-acre business park located at the corner of state Route 26 and Reynolds Road. The cost is expected to be approximately $477,000. The city's share of the cost is not to exceed $250,000.

Councilmember Ken Johnson said providing infrastructure to the business park is a large undertaking by the port district and will benefit the community by providing more opportunities to potential incoming businesses.

He said there are several questions the city needs answered about the project before making a decision. Johnson said he likes the project but wants city staff to meet with Beardsley and port engineers to consider future infrastructure needs throughout the city. He said there is a need to begin infrastructure improvements on the south side of the city too.

Mayor Shannon McKay said the city needs to improve infrastructure in other parts of the city and must consider that before spending money on the business park.

Johnson made a motion to table the issue until the retreat meeting in August.

As Johnson was making the motion, Beardsley approached the podium and requested to speak after Johnson made the motion.

McKay declined Beardsley's request. The mayor said council was trying to conduct a council meeting.

Beardsley apologized for requesting to speak and said he wasn't aware of how formal council business is conducted.

Councilmember Dan Dever seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Beardsley exited the council chambers and was followed by several others into the city hall entryway to discuss the issue while the council meeting continued.

Councilmember Marc Spohr and City Administrator Ehman Sheldon followed the group outside the council chambers.

"There's just two sides to the story," Spohr told the group.

Sheldon told Beardsley and the group that now was not the time to continue discussing the issue and said Beardsley can meet with him in his office.

Beardsley said he was unable to meet with Sheldon within the next couple days because he was leaving town.

Sheldon said if the project was important enough to the port, Beardsley should consider staying in town to continue discussing it.

The discussion outside the council chambers ended and some people returned to the meeting while others left.