—————————————————January 19, 2022————————————————-
Port staff reorganizes to maximize coordination: Chris Sparks is Operations Manager
Tuesday, Jan. 18 was the first day that the Port’s operations and maintenance crew worked under a new organizational structure. Chris Sparks, the new Operations Manager, retains his oversight of the Maintenance Department, so those two functions will work together seamlessly, said Port Executive Director Eron Berg. Sparks will guide almost half – 17 – of the Port’s total employees. Sparks replaces Terry Khile, who is retiring as Operations Manager.
Port’s new Harbormaster: Kristian Ferrero
As part of the Port’s reorganization, Kristian Ferrero has become the Harbormaster in charge of working with the public at all three of the Port’s marinas. The Harbormaster has prime responsibility for moorage customers, such as assigning slips, managing customer service, billing via the new Molo system and much more.
Executive Director Berg promotes Johnson and Smith
Executive Director Eron Berg has named Dave Johnson as the Port’s new Maintenance Crew Lead. Johnson reports to Operations Manager Chris Sparks. Also Sean Smith has been promoted to Yard Operations Lead, guiding the haulout crew and other yard duties. Berg said the Port is about to hire a new security officer as well.
Webber joining Port as Environmental Specialist
The Port is welcoming new Environmental Specialist Kimberlie Webber in late January. Webber may be a familiar face as a longtime local resident whose past work included habitat restoration for the Northwest Watershed Institute, a clerk at Pet Town, an arborist, a teacher and a cook and server at the Hudson Point Café. She is completing her senior year in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at Oregon State University.
“New” Port moorage and yard building coming in 2022
A building that once served as the U.S. Coast Guard office in Port Townsend will, in mid-2022, become the new moorage and yard office for the Boat Haven. When the Coast Guard built its new structure a couple decades ago, the Port physically moved the old building to one side of the Maintenance Yard where it has sat ever since. Mid-year, that structure will be moved to replace the current moorage office, said Executive Director Eron Berg. It is more attractive, more spacious, has more windows and boasts a covered porch, said Berg.
Pump-out upgrade grant readied for State
The Port has applied for a grant that might vastly improve the sewage pump-out facilities at all three Port-owned marinas (Boat Haven, Point Hudson and Quilcene) through the Washington State Parks, which manages a federally funded clean water program. If accepted, the grant would generate $176,000 in federal funds toward a $235,000 upgrade to improve current pump-out stations and add mobile facilities – dock carts and a floating pump-out vessel. Berg thanked private citizen Jeff Kelety, active with the Moorage Tenants Association, for promoting the grant and doing the paperwork for the application.
Commissioner Hasse: Always take sea level rise into account
A point of emphasis raised by new Port Commissioner Carol Hasse at her first full meeting on Jan. 12 was that the Port should always take sea level rise into account on any capital projects. That, Hasse said, should include planning to locate any expansion of the Boat Yard at a higher grade than the existing yard. Capital Projects Director Matt Klontz said that an unusually high tide two weeks ago pushed some tidal water over existing land bulkheads in the Boat Haven. “It was a glimpse of what we need to think about,” he said.
The “Hot Sheet” is an update of actions and issues before the Port Staff and Port Commission.