Bad news from Olympia, good news from airport manager at Klickitat County Commissioners meeting

LEOFF 1 is a pension plan for law enforcement officers and firefighters hired before Oct. 1, 1977. It is widely recognized as one of the best-funded pension plans in the country, which has made its surplus a target for state budgetary adjustments.

Supporters of the move argue the plan is heavily overfunded and the funds can be better used elsewhere. Opponents argue this is a dangerous move that jeopardizes the retirement security of first responders.

“The mechanism with which they performed that sweep may cause us some problems in the future,” Kennedy told commissioners. “Basically, they figured out how to sweep a fund that's not supposed to be sweepable ... I don't know how much Klickitat County has in terms of liabilities for LEOFF 1 officers and first responders, but we're asking is that if they're going to take that money, we want to pivot the liability for medical expenses under LEOFF 1 to the state.” 

And Columbia Gorge Regional Airport Manager Jeff Renard shared some good news with commissioners: "We were awarded a grant for $124,000 to put up a pole barn for our snow removal equipment and any of our equipment, our tractors and trucks and whatnot can get undercover. We’ll have it designed with enough power in there that we can plug in block heaters and battery chargers and just keep everything ready to go."

He said new hangers being built at the airport will have no problem being rented out, as he has a waiting list of 25 people who paid a deposit to be on the list.

Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved:

• A contract amendment with Washington Department of Corrections to update contact information.

• Executing the contract retainage bond for the Wood Gulch Bridge Preventive Maintenance Project, CRP 388.

• Professional Economic Development Services Agreement with Public Economic Development.

• Notice to vendors to advertise for the 2026 liquid asphalt purchase.

• Notice to Contractors to advertise for the Guardrail Upgrades Project, CRP 390.

• Notice to Contractors to advertise for the Klickitat County Fuel Station Project.

• Amendment No. 11 to the Klickitat County Health Department 2025-2027 consolidated contract.

• Local agency agreement supplement for the bundle – preventative maintainance. Deck Repair Project, CRP 376.

• Local agency federal agreement project prospectus for the Bundle – Preventative Maintenance Deck Repair Project, CRP 376.

• Offering certain real property as surplus & sale by public auction.

• Resolution amending the sale of certain tax title properties by public auction.

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More from this meeting:

Battery storage moratorium extended

Giant flagpole could have hidden costs, says public works director