WASHINGTON: Port of Chehalis commissioners approved an updated employment agreement for the port’s chief executive officer at a meeting on Thursday. The contract remains month-to-month, as it historically has been since port CEO Randy Mueller was hired in June 2014.
Mueller’s salary will remain the same at $92,000 a year, as does his performance bonus, which ranges from $0 to $10,000 annually in January per the terms of the port’s adopted policy. His vacation time has been increased from four weeks a year to five weeks. He is also now eligible for a longevity bonus, which is designed to incentivize his continued employment at the Port of Chehalis. Mueller will become eligible for a partial bonus payment three years from the date of the new agreement, and eligible for the full amount six years from now.
Instead of receiving a mileage reimbursement at the federal rate for travel inside of Lewis County, Mueller will now receive a $500 monthly car allowance instead. Travel outside of the county will still be paid for by the standard federal rate. Commissioners unanimously approved the updated agreement, which will go into effect Oct. 16.
“On a personal note, I’m happy to do this,” Mueller said of his job at the port. “We’ve enjoyed a lot of success, and have great relationships and are doing great things. It’s a good time to be in the port district and I’m hoping for many more good years.” Commissioners at the Thursday meeting also approved a purchase agreement for a 2.5-acre property on the southeast corner of Bishop and Maurin roads for $210,000.
The property was identified in the supplemental budget process after commissioners indicated they wanted to purchase the property. With the closure of the sale to Pacific Mobile Structures for $1.5 million, Mueller said the port had the funds to acquire the property. He said it is a logical fit to help keep port property contiguous. About one-third of the property is developable, while the rest of the property is impacted by a Bonneville Power Administration easement. Mueller said the sale should close in a matter of weeks.
Port commissioners also approved a property exchange agreement with the Lewis County Public Utilities District.The port owns a parcel at 1895 Bishop Road and is exchanging it with the PUD for a former substation site next to Habien Road. Mueller said environmental testing came back clean on the PUD property.
Several items still need to be finalized, such as an easement to the deed to put a monument sign on the corner of the property similar to what is already present on Jackson Highway and Rush Road. A public hearing will also take place prior to the exchange being finalized. In other port news, the bimonthly meetings will move to the first and third week of the month in both November and December.
