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2022-01-19 MINUTES 1
KITTITAS COUNTY
AIRPORT STUDY SESSION MINUTES
BOCC CONFERENCE ROOM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 108 - ELLENSBURG
Regular Meeting
WEDNESDAY 10:00 AM January 19, 2022
Board members present: Chair Laura Osiadacz, Vice Chair Cory Wright and Commissioner Brett
Wachsmith
Others:Ben Hoppe, Terry Larue, Mandy Buchholz
Meeting Call to Order: By Chair Laura Osiadacz at 10:00AM
2021 YEAR IN REVIEW:
Director Grannan touched on several accomplishments of the Airport Departments first year.
Some of the items included the move to the new facility, revised staffing, equipment purchases,
leases, operational documents, and the transition from auditor oversight to managing business in
house. Commissioner Wright asked about the Strategic Plan which was completed in 2021 and
asked Director Grannan to present that at the next Study Session.
2022 PROJECTS:
Director Grannan presented the upcoming projects for 2022 which included three new
development projects with a combination of funding from the County, WSDOT CARB Loans
and private investment. Other projects mentioned, industrial park clean up, drainage ditch
maintenance and a collaborative arrangement with the US Army to rehabilitate one of the
original army buildings on site.
LEASE POLICY UPDATE:
Director Grannan presented the revised Lease Policy for Bowers Field which had been a project
started in early 2021 and revised throughout the year to develop a foundation for all lease
documents prepared at the Airport. Questions were raised by Commissioner Wright relating to
the lease term length and reversion. The questions posed, brought to light the potential stance
the County would take on allowing additional lease length past the initial term or holding a
strong stance on reversion. In those questions, Commissioner Wright asked Director Grannan to
provide clarity on the cost allocated for remediation or demolition of leasehold improvements at
termination of lease. Director Grannan said he would prepare some information to present at the
public hearing on February 1st, 2022.
2022-01-19 MINUTES 2
CARB 2022:
Removed from the Agenda per Chair’s request.
SNOW OPERATIONS UPDATE:
Director Grannan updated the BoCC on the snow operations citing the value of the equipment
purchased in 2021. He also stated that in the three days following the snowstorm there were 5
Emergency Evacuation flights from the airport, that may not have been possible without the new
equipment. Director Grannan thanked the Commissioners for their support and reported that
additional equipment will be needed to continue the safe and quick response to adverse weather.
OTHER BUSINESS
Director Grannan expressed concern over the lack of response from the local aviation
community relating to the Minimum Standards. He also mentioned that the private meetings
being requested by airport stakeholders with the Commissioners was undermining the process.
He requested that if there were citizen concerns presented to the Commissioners that would
provide valuable insight into making changes to the Minimum Standards or other documents,
that those be presented to the Airport Staff and the Airport Advisory Committee. He also said he
understands the value of public input, however these individuals had received significant
opportunities to present concerns over the last several months to the staff and AAC.
Meeting adjourned at 10:48AM
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Ken Grannan Laura Osiadacz, Chairman