Port okays four cabins for Boyer

Four new rental cabins will be placed at Boyer Park and Marina this summer by the Port of Whitman County.

Port commissioners approved construction of four cabins at their regular meeting last Thursday, April 19. The 12 x 16-foot cabins will be purchased from Sturdy Built Sheds of Crestline.

Debbie Snell, properties and development manager, said they will now determine where to place the cabins to best avoid the park’s high winds and sprinklers and where they could best be in the shade.

They will be purchased out of $24,683.54 in insurance money the port received after high winds in November 2010 ripped the roof off a mobile home that had been used to house park employees. The workers now stay in the apartment unit at the Almota Inn hotel. Commissioners decided last winter to look into the cost of putting new camping cabins for rental at the park.

The Sturdy Built sheds were quoted at $4,057 each, though Port Administrative Assistant Linda Olson said they will get a discount by ordering four.

Director Joe Poire advised commissioners to buy three cabins. Site prep for construction and installation of the cabins may push the final price over the insurance settlement amount, he said.

Each cabin will need to be secured into the ground with hurricane-strength anchors.

Commissioners decided they would make any cost overage back in cabin rentals and decided to go ahead with four cabins.

Boyer is operated by the port through a lease agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which developed the park.

Dave Peterson operates the marina under an agreement with the port.