“A private partnership has signed an option with the Port of Olympia to lease Port-owned land at NorthPoint for development of a six-fueling station for the use of Olympia area recreational boaters.Thurston County resident L.R. “Red” Westgard, owner of Totem Marine Services in Tacoma, along with Wendell Stroud, owner of Tacoma-based Marine Floats, are seeking shoreline development permits for installation of the fuel facility adjacent to Genoas on the Bay restaurant, another Port tenant.The planned marine fuel facility features above-ground storage tanks for maximum protection of the marine environment, and will be in a convenient location for use by visitors and boaters who moor their boats in Olympia.“I think this is a great use of Port property and a great service to the boating community of Thurston County,” said Steve Pottle, Port Commissioner. “This is also very good business for the Port. Not only are we getting a ground lease, but we’re getting a business percentage rent and a flow fee for the amount of fuel that is pumped.”Stroud said the facility will operate year-round and will sell both gasoline and diesel. He said the facility will have two boat-sewage pumpout systems, a portable-potty dump, and all required environmental protection equipment. Restrooms are also planned on the dock for boater use.“We want to provide a first-rate service for local boaters,” Stroud said.The six planned fueling stations will provide the facility with a high-volume capacity and will be easily accessible to all Olympia marinas, Stroud said.Stroud said there is a dire need for an active marine fuel facility in Olympia. Research done by the partnership indicates about 850 boats are moored in Olympia area marinas, including the Port-owned and operated Swantown Marina nearby.The option signed by Westgard and Stroud is for a one-year period, allowing ample time to secure all necessary permits, according to Heber Kennedy, the Port’s manager of property development. Two-thirds of an acre of Port-owned property are encompassed in the lease option.The new fuel facility will be closely located to a planned dry-stack boat storage system planned by another developer for Port-owned property.”