County, The Dalles hold first meeting in decades

On April 3, Klickitat County and the City of The Dalles held a significant joint meeting at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, the first of its kind in decades. The session was marked by a collaborative spirit, overcoming recent communication challenges between the entities. One notable discussion arose regarding the airport's designation as “an Oregon airport located in Washington,” a classification dating back to its 1941 establishment. Airport Manager Jeff Renard clarified that this designation allowed the airport to receive funding from both states and the FAA. Klickitat County Prosecuting Attorney David Quesnel highlighted that the existing operating agreement from 2002 had deviated considerably from its original framework and needed reassessment.

Commissioner Lori Zoller reassured that the necessary changes would be minor and primarily related to housekeeping. Moreover, Quesnel proposed establishing the airport as an independent entity with its own governing board, still accountable to both the county and the city. In conclusion, the city and county agreed to form a joint committee to revise the agreement, with plans to reconvene in six months for further discussions.