Port of Whitman to acquire and remediate Rogers Brothers seed site for potential childcare facility

Port of Whitman Executive Director Kara Riebold told the Colfax City Council that the Port will close this month on the Rogers Brothers Seed Company property, a parcel behind the high school identified as a potential site for a future childcare facility. Riebold said Phase 1 of the Port's study documented historic seed-treatment and coal-shed uses and Phase 2 soil sampling confirmed that environmental cleanup is required.

"The property located behind the high school has been identified as a potential location for a future childcare facility," Riebold said, noting the Port has pursued a feasibility study funded by an assessment grant. She described two primary remediation options under consideration: encapsulating and sealing debris on-site or hauling contaminated material off-site.

Port Commissioner Tom Kammerzell emphasized the Port's ability to pursue grants and resources for remediation. "The Port is uniquely positioned to handle a project of this scale due to their access to specific grants and resources that would be unavailable to a private individual," Kammerzell said, framing the Port's acquisition strategy.

The presentation did not include a schedule for remediation work beyond the planned property closing and a stated intent by the Port to apply for cleanup grants. Councilmembers did not vote on any action related to the site during the meeting. Next steps reported to the council were closing on the purchase and pursuing grant funding for remediation to enable future site reuse and potential childcare development.