As many of the readers know, I’m in the running along with another concerned citizen for port commissioner and have heard from multiple sources some disturbing news. Port Manager Jay Personius is telling port users that all the port’s Department of Ecology problems stem from my involvement, to the point that he is creating hardships to those that are not in full agreement with him.

I can’t believe he is outright fabricating his own version of the port’s problems, but wait — that deflects any finger pointing at him for his failure on the DOE issue. The timeline and documents supporting this are there.

Personius in a DOE letter attached to an EPA inspection report on Oct. 9, 2018 was clearly told this facility was a boatyard and the agency required the port to apply for permit within 14 days. How did Personius respond? Simply ignore the request in the hope it would go away. That was until May 24, 2023 when DOE as a followup after not hearing anything from the port and assuming they ceased the boatyard operation, it was once again inspected by DOE staff. As you might guess, DOE again found a boatyard operation and reminded Personius that he must submit an application.

The agency gave the port until July 14, 2023 to submit an application for a boatyard operation. This provided sufficient time, had the port gone out and acquired the services of an engineering firm to address the permit application. But rather than take care of business properly, Personius made the next mistake — he did his own application that failed in so many ways. The application was not submitted until July 17.

The second notice to Personius was the deadline for a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan with a complete site map of Aug. 14, 2023. He knew this, although an email sent much earlier was not opened by him until July 3. Why Personius did not want to open this email is obvious — it required more work that was beyond his ability.

I should point out that the port did construct a nice stormwater-handling facility along its north property line just recently. But like other failed plans, this facility constructed with tax dollars was filled in before the grass along the edges started to grow. That’s because the next thing Personius had in mind was the concrete pads for the boatyard and, you guessed it, the stormwater facility was in the way. So here we are with a potential fine still pending, and an application by Personius for a boatyard that lacked so much information that I can’t spell it all out in this.

But you do have a chance to ask the board at the next Port of Peninsula meeting on Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. about what has occurred to resolve the DOE boatyard permit. As taxpayers and residents, we deserve an answer — not the “we can’t talk about it” that is so commonly used by Personius to dismiss something he doesn’t want to talk about. However, don’t be surprised if the port cancels this meeting like they did the Sept. 11 meeting. It’s a shell game to frustrate the public from coming. I do want to thank all those who are coming and getting involved — it’s the only way we are going to get answers.

CHUCK MIKKOLA

Klipsan Beach