Port declares Pullman lots surplus

Port of Whitman County commissioners Aug. 15 declared three lots in the Pullman Industrial Park surplus.

Port properties and development manager Debbie Snell said the commissioners declared the lots surplus because a tenant has expressed interest in purchasing the property.

Snell said Schweitzer, which owns property adjacent to the port’s property, is likely to purchase the three lots for about $200,000.

A public hearing will be Sept. 5 on the proposal to dispose of surplus property.

The property’s proposed use is commercial and industrial. The hearing will be at 11 a.m. at the Port of Whitman office.

The port commissioners also agreed to appropriate $2,000 to the Franklin County Conservation District for its Wheat Week and Water Week educational programs. The programs are agriculture-based programs that are done all across the state, Snell said.

Commissioners also heard construction updates for the Port of Wilma and Central Ferry rail spur projects. The Central Ferry project was to begin on Tuesday and the Wilma project by Sept. 1.

Commissioners also held their strategic planning meeting Tuesday in Garfield.

The port also will go through an audit Aug. 26 that will focus on federal funding that the port received. Snell said the port has had clean audits in the past, and it is an educational process for port staff. Cost of the audit is $8,000 to $10,000, Snell said.