Purchase and Sale Agreement for Peshastin

A purchase and sale agreement by the Port for its 60-acre property at the former Peshastin Mill site was approved.  The next phase of the $3.3 million transaction between the Port and Charles Reppas will be a feasibility study undertaken by Mr. Reppas to more thoroughly evaluate a number of issues before the sale will close. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in September of 2008.  Residents of the Peshastin community were present, including Kathy Springer, sub-area planning committee chairperson, who commented that the committee was pleased with Port efforts to seek their input during the Port’s development process of the site.

Letter of Support for the City of Rock Island Sewer Project

Rock Island Mayor Russell Clark requested a letter of support for a regional sewer system, explaining that an environmental study has been completed and the design phase is about to begin.  He reported that the system will be a strong component enhancing the economic vitality for the Rock Island area.  The Port Commission expressed its support for the Rock Island project as important to the region and will formalize that support in writing in the form of letters to Representative Hastings and Senators Murray and Cantwell.

Chelan County Planning Status Report

John Guenther presented an overview of a few of the county’s current planning projects and encouraged the Port to continue to participate actively in sub-area planning efforts and in the development of the economic development element of the County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Community Indicators Project

The Community Foundation of North Central Washington is leading an effort to create a community indicators website. Beth Stipe, the Foundation Executive Director, presented an overview of the proposed project, using Spokane’s community indicator project as a model.  The purpose of such a private/public tool would be to offer a variety of businesses, agencies, and the general public valid data to enhance their decision-making abilities at both the county-wide level as well as individual city/community/private business levels.  Beth remarked that community/public agency and private business partnerships will be key to supporting the creation of the website, as well as maintaining it  She has been working with John Guenther, Chelan County Community Development Director, to identify a wide variety of community partners willing to commit financial resources to the project.  Beth is seeking financial commitments from many government and private groups to support development and maintenance of a local website.  Port commissioners approved the commitment of $5,000 initially, with the intent to commit additional funding, if needed, when progress into the development of the project is underway.

Pangborn Update

Airport Manager Pat Moore apprised the commissioners that Horizon will be dropping one flight in the month of April but will review scheduling issues in May.  At that time Horizon will consider the possibility of reintroducing that flight back into the Wenatchee area flight schedule.  Ron Russ, Pangborn’s supervisor of operations, reported that 91% of the December flights were completed during the month of December, despite periodic weather concerns both at SeaTac and Wenatchee.  He also reported that enplanements were up 14% from December of 2006.

Confluence Technology Center

The Commission authorized the renewal of an inter-local agreement with the Educational Service District for technical support services related to the operation of the CTC’s videoconferencing center.  On another note, Yahoo! will be hosting the Chamber of Commerce’s Business-After-Hours on Wednesday, June 23rd from 5-7 pm at the Confluence Technology Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:  Mark Urdahl, Executive Director, 509-663-5159