Port of Moses Lake employee's husband blasts manager

MOSES LAKE - A flier circulated in the community criticizing Port of Moses Lake Executive Manager Craig Baldwin, was written by an employee's husband.

Rich Bieda, husband of the port's Finance/Administration Manager Michelle Bieda, admitted to the Columbia Basin Herald he wrote several allegations against Baldwin in a flier and distributed them in the community. 

He accuses Baldwin of hiding the true amount of federal air service funds from port commissioners and treating port tenants unprofessionally by yelling and screaming at them.

Rich Bieda requested Baldwin's resignation.

Baldwin declined to comment on Bieda's allegations at the request of port commissioners.

During a recent port meeting, Baldwin provided commissioners with a status report about the air service funds, apparently sharing all details about the federal grant. 

The $475,000 grant aided the delivery of commercial air service from June 2009 to June 2010 from the port's Grant County International Airport.

Commercial air service ended last year because not enough people were taking flights to and from Moses Lake.

The grant was formally closed earlier this month, but had been left open in case the money was needed to restart air service, Baldwin told the Columbia Basin Herald during an interview last week.

Bieda also claims the port spent $10,000 on a newsletter without requesting legal bids.

The Columbia Basin Herald prints the newsletter, but it is composed by port staff.

"The cost of printing a newsletter is well below $10,000," said Columbia Basin Herald Managing Editor Bill Stevenson.

Mindy Chambers, of the state Auditor's Office, said the port is legally allowed to pay less than $50,000 for services without obtaining bids.

Bieda said he wrote the port commissioners about his issues in different letters. 

Michelle Bieda was hired last year as the port's finance/administration manager. She filled a vacancy created by a retiring employee. As of Wednesday, she was still working at the port.

The Columbia Basin Herald was unable to reach her for comment.

Attacks were also made against Baldwin on Craigslist,com. Rich Bieda said he knew of them but did not write them.

An accusation was also registered at the state Auditor's Office. Chambers confirmed an issue about the port was reported through the citizens' hotline, but did not provide details about the allegation.

She said she is not legally allowed to discuss the matter until it is resolved.