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06/27/2018 MINUTES 3 <br />transporting patients out of Bowers Field in the winter. MIKE <br />LUNDEEN felt the County should make hiring an Airport Manager a <br />priority as they could assist with planning and looking ahead. LEO <br />OLTMAN said he was a small business owner and County is going to <br />continue to grow tremendously and the airport is an important asset <br />and to not lose it. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE <br />PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. <br /> <br />COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN said when additional revenue has been needed at <br />the airport, the renters/lease holders claim they don’t want to pay <br />anymore. He said by closing runway 725 it was because it had not <br />been maintained for approximately 30-40 years and it is dangerous <br />for aircrafts to be using it. He said he understood the need for an <br />Airport Manager and felt the proposed MOA is appropriate. He said <br />the Public Hearing was part of transparency and would like to <br />partner with CWU to find ways of funding the airport. COMMISSIONER <br />JEWELL noted a letter of support they received from the Washington <br />State Department of Transportation and how they would like to be <br />involved. He said the proposed Memorandum of Agreement had been <br />approved by the State Attorney General’s office and the County <br />Prosecutor’s office. He explained how CWU was a major user of the <br />airport with their aviation program, and without them there wouldn’t <br />be one. He felt it’s a tough, complex problem but the conversation <br />needs to start somewhere and urged the Board to approve the <br />document. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ said it was a mission of the Board to <br />mend fences with CWU and appreciated the work done by Commissioner <br />Jewell and representatives of CWU. She indicated she was unsure if <br />the proposed MOA was a solution or that if something else would be <br />better. She reviewed the funding challenges for the maintenance at <br />the airport but would like to see a plan in place which included <br />funding alternatives to the challenges being faced. <br /> <br />COMMISSIONER JEWELL moved to approve the Memorandum of Agreement <br />between Kittitas County and Central Washington University regarding <br />Co-Sponsorship of Bowers Field Airport, and to amend Section 2, <br />Provision a(3), line 9 by striking the word “six”. COMMISSIONER <br />O’BRIEN seconded. <br /> <br />COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN felt it was good to have a plan in place to <br />begin moving forwarding and with a MOA they could see what could be <br />worked out and have parallel options going as well. He encouraged <br />anyone to bring ideas forward if they have any, but was looking <br />forward to keeping the process moving. <br /> <br />CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ said her vote against the proposal wasn’t <br />necessarily due to the MOA itself, but listening to public testimony <br />and communication from citizens, it has persuaded her to look at <br />other options whether it’s forming a committee to begin looking at <br />options or something else. She felt it was a little premature to <br />move forward with only one option without looking at alternatives.