GOLDENDALE — Klickitat County and the City of The Dalles appear to have a brewing disagreement over a project to build a special hangar at The Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport that would be used to train aviation technicians through Columbia Gorge Community College. The city and the county are in an unusual 50-50 joint ownership of the airport. By agreement, Klickitat County turns over the day-to-day operation of the airport to The Dalles.
But in the case of this hangar project, The Dalles agreed to let Klickitat County take the lead.
Relations have always been cooperative in the past, but at a March 18 meeting, the county did something that The Dalles has been arguing against: Award a contract for the infrastructure improvements needed without awarding a contract for the building itself. A county official has reportedly said that they won’t even put the building out for bid until the infrastructure is completed.
At a time when every day’s delay sees costs rise and implementation of tariffs may amplify that problem, city officials have questioned that decision. When asked about that during the public comment period, Klickitat County Commissioner Lori Zoller responded. This text was taken directly from the transcription service provided by the Klickitat County’s Zoom application:
“This has been a very long-term project that both the city and the county have been involved in for many years. We’ve tried to keep it on the track of good process with all everyone involved and informed. And as of the last few months, because some differences in just a few people that would like to see something a little different, a lot of misconceptions and miscommunications have been let out.
“Klickitat County has stayed on track. They’ve stayed engaged with the EDA (Economic Development Administration), yes, they are on board and are approved, as is the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and other people that have approved this project for the college hangar is what we’re talking about. And the college is on board and wants to move forward.
“And I can tell you that there’s been a lot of communication. There’s been a lot of meetings, communications, emails, up until the point where there was still a difference. There became the communication that there became people weren’t working together, that we weren’t on the same track. And that’s not true. And we’ve even heard from both sides legal counsels that we’re moving the direction that we need to move.”
Commissioner Todd Andrews added: “I’d just like to say I look forward to meeting with people in The Dalles. I’ve reached out to them, and I think it’s going to be really exciting. Everything going on there at the airport and I think there’s just been a lot of history holding things back.”
Chair Ron Ihrig said: “And I know this board is just excited to move forward and make sure small differences don’t set us aside and that we don’t not look at the big picture. I’ve been involved with bidding projects; I don’t believe we’ll do a bid on the building and then hold that bid for several months ... I know there’s an engineering estimate tied to that, that is within the grant funds. And when we get to that, we’ll bid that project out and hopefully it’ll be less than our engineering estimate. But that’s within line of the grant funding.”
On Wednesday, in response, The Dalles’ City Manager Matthew Klebes issued this statement: “The city is disappointed and increasingly frustrated that Klickitat County Commissioners and staff did not fully address the city’s questions and concerns regarding the commission’s intent to award the contract Tuesday. To date, the city’s questions and concerns remain unaddressed. While the city and Klickitat County have a strong partnership in our shared Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, timely and meaningful communication is essential to maintain that relationship.”
In other actions, commissioners approved a short plat requested by Joseph & Janis Palmeira, dissolved the Klickitat County Public Corporation, and voted against allowing off-road vehicles on certain county roads.
Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved:
• An amendment to the Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Agreement with the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of SW WA for 2025.
• Final acceptance and release of retainage for the 2024 annual striping program of $15,846.50.
• A $204,963.36 contract with Specialized Pavement Marking, LLC for white plastic edge lines.
• Final project acceptance and release of $6,495.37 retainage for the “Klickitat County courthouse HVAC replacement project 2022.
• A federal aid project prospectus for the Alderdale fire-damaged guardrail repair project.
• A sub-award agreement with Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health (SWACH) for help with compliance, disbursement of Opiod Funds and other services.
• Final project acceptance and release of $6,793.02 retainage for the “Klickitat County courthouse HVAC replacement project 2021.
• Approval of “Notice of Request for Proposals” to use Klickitat County Historic
Preservation Funds.
• Concurrence to award bid for the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport Business Park
Phase 2 project to Crestline Construction.
• Letter of support to the Klickitat Public Utility District #1 Commissioners in regard to the Dallesport Water District application for Landfill Gas Funding Assistance
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