Port can take over marina

FREELAND — State officials have given their blessing to the transfer of the Langley marina to the Port of South Whidbey.

But not in writing.

Port manager Ed Field said Jan Jutte, the state auditor’s director for legal affairs, had reviewed the city of Langley and the port’s two-page contract and said by telephone the interlocal agreement over the marina transfer can move forward.

“She asked if the port wanted her decision in writing,” Field said. “I answered ‘Yes!’”

Jutte’s review means the city and port can continue the process of turning over ownership of the marina in January 2009.

Last month, the State Auditor’s Office expressed concerns with the property transfer.

Jutte said it appeared that most of the language in the agreement focused on the concept that the property has no value. And she also said that when two government entities transfer property, the side that gives up the property should be paid “true and full value” for the property.

During a meeting with Langley and port officials on July 16, however, the port presented a detailed account on the financial obligations the port will assume once it takes over the city’s small boat harbor, and also detailed what the city would get in the deal.

The memo offered cost estimates for structural repairs at the marina, removal of the abandoned reef nearby and mitigation of safety hazards in the breakwater reef made out of sunken tires.

The memo also marked out estimated the hundreds of thousands of dollars it will cost to rebuild the boat ramp.

Port Commissioner Geoff Tapert said the property transfer will now move forward.

“There were rumblings someone wanted to scuttle the agreement and that just wasn’t the case,” he said. “Jutte had concerns, we answered them to her satisfaction. Cooler heads prevailed and we can move forward.”

Field said a series of photos attached to the documents the port submitted to the state may have influenced Jutte.

“When she saw the one picture she commented, ‘I had no idea the wharf was in such bad condition,’” he said.

The city and port had debated the issue of value for weeks before reaching an agreement on the property transfer.

Some city officials said the marina property was worth $1.4 million, but port officials countered that the harbor had no value because of the extensive cost of repairs and improvements.

Field said a written decision from the auditor’s office was due any time.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.