During January’s public meeting of the International Port of Coos Bay, one of the action items was to increase the monthly retainer to Ken Messerle of Coast Consulting and Services, LLC from $2,000 to $2,500 per month.

Previously, it seems, the Port had the benefit of a ‘dual consultancy’, according to executive director Jeff Bishop, that included the services of Gov Kitzhaber’s chief of staff during his previous adminstration, Steve Marks. Steve Marks, a public policy consultant, apparently received upwards of $6,500 per month from the Port of Coos Bay but has since moved on to the new Kitzhaber administration leaving a ‘bit more work’ for Messerle. Bishop is quick to note that Messerle’s $500 raise will still be a savings of $6,000 per month.

Naturally, this begs a lot of questions, like why, when the State is facing a budget shortfall and asking public employees to accept wage freezes while taking on more work and responsibility, is Ken Messerle asking for and receiving a 20% increase for “a little more work”? Why does the Port need to hire ‘consultants/lobbyists’? Then there is the question of just exactly what does Messerle do for the Port that costs $30,000 annually that cannot be handled by Port staff?

Then the really BIG question is, what did Marks do to earn his $78,000 a year, (for how many years), that can now be handled for a mere $500 per month?

Suggestions welcome.

Messerle is seen at the far right of the image along with Nikki Whitty proudly digging the first holes for the bottomless money pit known as the $51 million 12″ pipeline that keeps costing money.