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Julie Kjorsvik From: Laura Osiadacz Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 1:21 PM To: Julie Kjorsvik Subject: FW: Proposed Airport MOA with CWU Laura Osiadacz (O-Shaw-Dis) Kittitas County Commissioner, District#2 205 W 5th Ave. Ste. 108 Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887 Office 509-962-7508 Fax 509-962-7679 http:Hwww.co.kittitas.wa.us From: Steve Lathrop [mailto:Steve@lwhsd.com] Sent: Friday,June 22, 2018 6:07 PM To: Laura Osiadacz Subject: Proposed Airport MOA with CWU Laura,this is a very bad idea and not in the best interest of the county. As the word is getting out,there is significant and growing opposition to this and I ask that his public hearing be put off at least until the Jewell replacement can be seated. Certainly a larger venue is likely to be needed,and more publicity about what is at stake should be undertaken first. Some of the points against considering or signing anything like the proposed MOA include: • Until the county makes a thorough and very public examination about how the airport fits into the long term best interests of the county--not those of Central or any other third party, none of which has been done,it has no business getting into a deal about its financing,operations, maintenance and upgrades with anyone. The very idea that the county would even be considering turning over any authority over this valuable county asset to any other entity, let alone and agency of the State of Washington,suggests a serious breach of public trust. • There is also a very significant, built in conflict of interest in letting Central,the largest (currently at least)tenant and user of the airport, also be in control of its operations. It is obvious that private interests will suffer. It is exactly why airports are so against allowing airlines or any other major user to have too much say in operations. • It is implicit in the MOA that each side is going to instruct their representatives to come back with a deal by the end of the year. The question of whether or not a deal should even be under consideration will not be on the table. So signing the MOA now makes it certain that the operation of the airport will go over to Central. • It is also obvious that the statements made at the study sessior last week by certain commissioners were not true: other options will not be considered as there will be no place in the process to insert them;the MOA does not contemplate that the county will be considering, let alone electing to pursue,other options; and the MOA makes it very difficult for the county to withdraw from the agreement once signed. • The county has been derelict in taking care of the airport for years. There is grant money available for airports, and it is not credible to say that the county cannot come up with the money for a match for this very important county asset. • Commissioner Jewell leaves the board 3 days after the hearing and Commissioner O'Brien leaves the end of the year. It is highly inappropriate for them to consider or act on this MOA and should leave any decision regarding long term impacts on the airport to the new board. 1