The Port of Alsea met on July 21st to discuss the lease they have with Shrimp Daddy. There was a standing room only crowd in attendance. Port Manager Roxie Cuellar stated that the discussion regarding the Shrimp Daddy lease started about a month ago. The port leases space to weld crab pots, however that can only be done during dry weather as the welding is outside work, the lease to Shrimp Daddy off sets the costs lost to the port during the winter months, when the welding can't be done. The board last month discussed terminating the lease they have with Shrimp Daddy.
The board discussed giving Shrimp Daddy an 8 month notice that they would be terminating their lease at the end of March. Cuellar stated she told the board that this should be brought up at a meeting and it was put on the agenda for July. She added that in the last month there has been drug problems from the shop. She said that they have found evidence of drug use in the public bathrooms and when she contacted Mike, the owner of Shrimp Daddy he reportedly told her that they don't associate with drugs and it is not a concern involving his business and felt it was retaliation.
Cuellar told those in attendance at the meeting that there have been other problems as well. She said under the lease Shrimp Daddy is not allowed to use the Port garbage cans. She said that after the garbage cans were emptied it filled up again and she had a port employee, Robbie dumpster dive to look for evidence that the garbage was coming from Shrimp Daddy. She said Robby had found papers in the garbage tying it to Shrimp Daddy. Cuellar said she contacted Mike and told him they would charge him $150 for garbage, he reportedly said sorry it was his and he would make sure his staff did not do that again and she did not charge him. While dumpster diving Robby told Cuellar he also found drug paraphernalia. Cuellar said they also put a watch on the public bathrooms after finding evidence of drug use in the garbage there.
Those who spoke in favor of Mike and the Shrimp Daddy business reported to the port board that since the space that used to be run to help the homeless is now shut down they are no longer supplying port a potty and resources for the homeless. This has created a situation where there is an increase in homeless people utilizing port property. One person testified that when speaking to the Sheriff's office code enforcement officer they reported that to the best of his knowledge there have been no complaints about the shrimp business or their boats. Others stated that Shrimp Daddy was good for Waldport and for tourism and what a great asset the business is to the community.
Cuellar said Mike is in violation of the contract as someone has been sleeping in the building and there is a pontoon boat that has been stored on the side of the building that is against the contract. Mike was not in attendance for the meeting as he is in Nevada on fire duty for the forest service. The port also received a letter from an attorney, representing a local resident, suggesting that the Port Board review its policies and statutes regarding competition with local businesses. The board agreed that they would like Mike present to discuss these issues with him directly and are going to hold another public meeting before making a final decision regarding the lease with Shrimp Daddy.
