Concern: Moore-Clark site a fire hazard

Emergency management has been a priority here since channel flooding in 2022 swamped waterfront and low-lying areas.

Attention turned last week to fears of catastrophes and disaster at the dilapidated former Moore-Clark warehouse building at South First and Caledonia streets. A fixture in La Conner since before the turn of the century – to the 20th century– and once part of a bustling hatchery fish food processing plant and longtime local industrial hub, it was constructed as a grain warehouse in 1898, a time when horses and wagons negotiated La Conner's streets.

Shelter Bay residents Lori Wise and John Turbeville expressed concerns to Town Council members during their Jan. 23 hybrid meeting at Maple Hall about potential fire hazards posed by the decrepit 15,000 square foot structure.

A fire at the wood-framed building, from vandalism or other cause, could quickly spread elsewhere depending on the direction and strength of winds, they said.

They brought up Lahaina, the popular Hawaiian tourist destination where a devastating fire last year claimed 100 lives and has led to more than $1 billion in insurance payouts thus far.

Town Administrator Scott Thomas and Mayor Marna Hanneman said the Town has taken steps to address needed public safety issues, including installation of a security fence around the perimeter of "Big Blue," as some locals call the building, restricting access.

Town officials are also seeking state support for purchase of a fire boat that could be employed to fight waterfront blazes. A La Conner delegation has that on the agenda when it meets with state lawmakers Feb. 8 in Olympia.

The Town already has grant funding to plan revitalization of the south end former industrial area.

Wise cautioned that protective fencing in place at the warehouse isn't a foolproof measure.

"The fence is tight around the building," she said. "It doesn't protect against vandalism."

Town Assistant Planner Ajah Eills said the empty warehouse has been declared a hazardous building, which made necessary installation of the fencing. She noted the building extends onto the public right-of-way on South First Street ,.

Staff are fielding concerns. "We've gotten quite a few emails about the building," she said.

Eills said Triton America, LLC bought the three-acre Moore-Clark property in 2012.

Triton went to great expense in 2014 – paying more than $135,000 – to clear the warehouse of debris left behind by a wall manufacturing firm that had leased the building, but has let it set idle.

The Moore-Clark plant here ceased operations in March 1993 after its purchase by British Petroleum. The late Vaughn Jolly proposed a multi-use development for the property through the '90s and into the 2000s, but those plans didn't gain traction.

"Vaughn was just ahead of his time," one local person, who knew Jolly well, has lamented.

In other council business:

Council unanimously approved a $0.61 per 100 gallons sewer rate for 2024 for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. The 42% increase, from $0.43/gallon covers increases in treatment plant operations.

Resident Linda Talman reported that the Skagit Council of Governments non-motorized transportation committee is developing a new bike map. "Everybody," said Talman, "needs to be thinking about what we can do better."

Hanneman reported attending the Jan. 22 La Conner School Board meeting. "It's amazing what they do with so little," she said. "The dedication of the teachers, volunteers and school board is incredible." Hanneman singled out the district's extracurricular theater arts program, which in March will present this year's play.

Hanneman stressed that "affordable housing is the hot topic wherever you go."

Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain urged citizen input in a process and timeline for future use of the Jenson property.

A draft municipal code of ethics for Town officials as a proposed code will be revisited in February.