By Madysen McLain
Gazette Columnist 

Port considers loan for Tekoa airport fueling station

 

Port of Whitman commissioners and staff examine a monetary request for the Tekoa airport fueling station from Roy Schulz, city of Tekoa council member.

Port of Whitman commissioners and staff members discussed the potential of loaning funds to the City of Tekoa for its airport fueling system at the June 6 meeting.

About a year ago, the Tekoa airport's credit card fuel supplier from Pullman decided he was no longer going to supply the airport.

"This was not something advantageous for him," said Roy Schulz, Tekoa city council member who represented the airport at the meeting.

He said they didn't have airplane fuel for awhile, so the city council decided to pay for the fueling station to be filled with 1,000 gallons.

The city planned on taking over the fueling station until it was discovered that upgrades needed for the station would cost $17,000, Schulz said.

He said the station usually pumps 3,000 gallons a year, and they make $1 a gallon.

Port Executive Director Joe Poire said the port has let out two loans for airport fueling systems in the past, and the airport would pay off the loan as profits came in.

Port Attorney Bruce Ensley said the port's first agreement involving airports was actually with Rosalia in 1992, when the port agreed to grant $15,000 as a port expenditure, rather than a loan, for the Rosalia airport's fueling system.

The port and Schulz agreed to work together to create a plan of action, then the port will make a decision at the next port meeting.

In other business, staff member Brenda Stave reported the collaboration for unified Snake River dams communications, as of Thursday morning, has raised about $45,000 for the project.

"There are a lot of stakeholders who are interested in saving the dams," Stave said. She is the new Port of Whitman communications coordinator.

The goal is to promote the benefits of the four Snake River dams. She said the project still needs $35,000 to reach their goal amount.

"It's pretty exciting to get this thing off the ground," Stave commented.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Cheney Free Press
Ritzville Adams County Journal
Whitman County Gazette
Odessa Record
Franklin Connection
Davenport Times
Spokane Valley News Herald
Colfax Daily Bulletin

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024