Olympic Peninsula Realtors Say the Worst is Over

There have been more foreclosures in Clallam and Jefferson Counties this year than last year, but the Peninsula is still below the state and national average in foreclosure activity. And local realtors are saying the worst is over.

Michelle Sandoval, Mayor of Port Townsend and owner of Windermere Real Estate Port Townsend, said:

"Certainly the market is stabilizing here. We hit bottom a long time ago. We're doing much better. We saw a great deal more activity in the last quarter. I think it will continue to get better."

Dan Blevins, Port Angeles Association of Realtors president, said:

"I'm optimistic it's going to pass. It's going to take time. I think it's going to be a year or two. It boils back down to jobs. In Port Angeles and Clallam County, it's jobs. I don't care how you cut it. We have to be on the lookout for places to come in, that want to move here and do business. Hopefully it's manufacturing. That's what we need."

Increase in 2011 Property Tax Levy?

The Port of Port Angeles is considering whether or not to raise the 2011 property tax levy by one percent.

There will be a public hearing on Monday, November 8th at 10 a.m. for people to comment on the levy and the Port's preliminary budget.

Bomb Threat in Port Angeles

Right here in River City. A man (name not released yet) has been arrested for telling authorities he had planted a bomb at the Richard B. Anderson Federal Building in downtown Port Angeles.

The threat was made at 1:52 p.m. today. The Federal Building was evacuated, and First Street was closed to traffic between Valley Street and Laurel Street. First Street was reopened at 2:36 p.m. after a search turned up nothing. The threat was made at the Clallam County Sheriff’s office.

The Federal Building is still evacuated until a bomb-sniffing dog has finished checking the building.

UPDATE: The person in custody is Johannes L. Helgeson, 41, of Port Angeles. Police officers and Border Patrol agents finally left the area around the Federal Building a little after 4 p.m., so presumably nothing was found.

Biomass Cogeneration to be Discussed at PABA meeting

At this Tuesday’s meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association, guest speakers will be Tom Swanson, area manager for Green Crow Corp.; Harry Bell of Green Crow; and Ted Simpson, Clallam County Public Utility District Commissioner.

They’ll be discussing biomass cogeneration — generating electricity by burning wood waste — which would be undertaken by Nippon Paper Industries USA in Port Angeles and Port Townsend Paper Corp.

The PABA’s weekly meetings are held on Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m. at Joshua’s.

New Beach for Port Angeles?

This was one of the ideas proposed by the City Council at yesterday's discussion of Waterfront Trail Improvements.

The beach would be east of the Valley Creek Estuary, along the shore between Oak Street and the estuary.

City Council Votes to Purchase Rayonier Tank

The Port Angeles City Council voted 6 to 1 to purchase 11.86 acres of the former Rayonier mill site, including the tank. Max Mania was the only council member who voted no.

The city will use the 5-million gallon tank for temporary storage of stormwater and untreated sewage.

Port Angeles Might Require Business License and Fee

At the City Council's meeting this Tuesday, they will consider requiring all businesses in Port Angeles to pay for a business license. They first considered this idea three years ago, but it didn't go anywhere.

Right now about 150 Port Angeles businesses are covered by the city's business license ordinance.

Port Townsend Ferry Back in Service

The Port Townsend-Whidbey Island Ferry was taken out of service this morning for repairs. It is now back in service.

Pay Raise for Port of Port Angeles Executive Director

Jeff Robb is getting a five percent pay raise. This was decided by a unanimous vote of the Port of Port Angeles commissioners. His pay will now be $120,750.

This pay raise will be retroactive to August of this year.

Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Port Angeles

City Hall says a proposed medical marijuana dispensary is in compliance with state and municipal laws. City Manager Kent Myers said:

“All we're saying is . . . it meets regulations. It's not to say that we've endorsed it.”

Richard Pharr of Port Angeles says he will apply for a building occupancy permit this week and hopes to have the Olympian Canna dispensary up and running next month.

The location isn’t being made public. Clients will need to make appointments by phone.

Deb Kelly’s Hanging Sign

I’ve driven past that red sign hanging from a crane. I thought it seemed a bit more clever and original than just using newspaper ads and hundreds of yard signs.

But there have been some complaints.

Layoffs at Peninsula Plywood

Thirty-five Peninsula Plywood employees were laid off yesterday; that's almost a quarter of the company's work force.

PenPly President Josh Renshaw said:

"The weak market, combined with a seasonal downturn, would have created some layoffs anyway. But we've made some recent changes in process that have improved our productivity. That made the layoff larger than it would have been if it was just market based."