Sheriff and county staff discuss Port of Olympia vessel transfers and repowering of patrol boat

The Thurston County agenda-setting session on March 24 included a detailed department discussion with the sheriff’s office about an interlocal agreement with the Port of Olympia to transfer two harbor-patrol vessels and related operations.

County staff told commissioners they examined the financial implications and found no negative impact to the general fund because harbor-patrol operations are financed through a port account that funds a deputy-position allocation; staff can reduce assigned hours if port funds decrease. Commissioners asked whether long-term agreements (e.g., for slip priority, mortgage-for-slips, and office space at the port) should be embedded in an interlocal; staff said the port had been providing in-kind support (slips/space) for many years and that the county is working through how to memorialize those arrangements without creating contract issues for the port.

Sheriff’s staff and finance leads answered a commissioner question about a county fund (account titled in the transcript as "10 TCSO 10year fund 1440") noting a one-time capital outlay to repower the vessel Integrity. The sheriff said Integrity’s engines blew and the boat has been out of commission for about three years; repowering is estimated not to exceed $166,000 (staff said it may cost less) and the county has money in the appropriate account. Staff explained repowering and vessel transfers are connected to the interlocal and to moving the vessel into county ownership before investing in engines.

Commissioners discussed whether an ILA should address port gift-accounting concerns and long-term responsibilities; staff said they can continue negotiating those provisions. The March 24 transcript records discussion and financial review but does not show a final board vote on the interlocal or vessel transfers during the agenda-setting session.