The Board of Port of Olympia Commissioners brought countywide governance directly to South Thurston County on Monday, Sept. 28, convening its regular evening meeting at the Bucoda Community Center.
Highlighted by a spotlight on municipal economic revitalization, the session featured detailed progress reports on port-funded grants alongside formal commission votes on environmental remediation, municipal audits, and long-term state facility leases.
During the meeting's partner spotlight, Bucoda Mayor Callie Carpenter presented a comprehensive update on how a $20,000 Small Cities Program grant from the Port of Olympia sparked tangible economic improvements across the town of 610 residents. The funds enabled Bucoda to renovate its municipal RV park along the Skookumchuck River by upgrading electrical infrastructure, adding fire pits, and establishing designated RV pads.
“Before, it just kind of was a grassy patch with electric boxes hanging out, and you just kind of picked whatever spot,” Carpenter told the commission. “So now it's a pretty high path of where spots are.”
Carpenter highlighted that the grant also resolved a decade-long infrastructure deficiency at the park's restrooms. “We also haven't had hot water in the restrooms for maybe more than 10 years, so we were able to get electricity out there and hook up a water heater tank,” Carpenter said. "We have hot water there, which may not seem like a big deal, but it's kind of huge.”
Operating with just two full-time municipal employees, Bucoda relies on targeted grant funding to build sustainable local revenue streams. Carpenter outlined plans for a soft launch of the renovated RV park this fall following town council’s approval, followed by an official hard launch on Memorial Day next year.
“I mean, for us, it's going to give us that kickstart to be able to have some major revenue coming into our town,” Carpenter said. “We were, you know, very good stewards of the money that you granted us, and really, really excited to see what the return on your investment is.”
Commissioners warmly received the presentation, stressing the value of traveling to smaller communities. “I think it's so important to us at the commission to come down and out to these different cities to kind of understand that economic development has different meanings in different places, and it's site specific,” one commissioner noted.
In addition to the RV park, Carpenter noted that an engineering feasibility study is underway to evaluate installing a pressurized sewer line connecting Bucoda to Tenino.
Because Bucoda's wastewater treatment capacity currently sits at just 40%, the regional connection would aid environmental goals while unlocking future commercial growth.
Turning to formal business, the commission approved multiple contract modifications across its consent and action calendars:
The commission closed by reviewing advisory items, including a proposed 20-year ground lease with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services for 10.16 acres in Tumwater to accommodate up to $24.9 million in facility upgrades, and a regional resolution supporting state and federal funding for the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Project.
