A 'warm, comfortable place' for weary travelers

MOSES LAKE — There’s a thin layer of white construction dust covering everything in the new Half-Sun Travel Plaza.

Which makes sense, given that workers are still trying to finish the giant convenience store and truck stop and get it up and running.

But it means that everything needs to be cleaned ahead of the informal opening, which at 10 a.m., is only an hour away.

“There’s dust everywhere, so I’m busy wiping things down,” said 25-year-old Stratford resident Brystan Lindsey as she took a rag to a computer at a checkout station.

“Today is my very first day,” she added, smiling.

As dignitaries from the city of Moses Lake were gathering, the travel plaza still looked like it was a week or two away from formally opening — orange cones still blocked the street entrances, construction equipment was still in place, and workers were still assembling and installing things.

“We planned this in various forms since 2003,” said Kyle Desautel, operations manager with Colville Fuels, one of several retail companies owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

“We like it down here,” Desautel added. “I live in Coulee Dam, and I didn’t realize so much was going here.”

With the dignitaries in tow — including Moses Lake Mayor Todd Voth, City Manager John Williams, and Deputy City Manager Gilbert Alvarado — Desautel showed off the truck stop’s emerging features — an internet equipped lounge complete with gas fireplace, giant television, and four washer-dryer sets for truckers to relax in; eight showers, including one handicapped shower stall; a conference use available for community use; a planned sandwich shop; and fully stocked shelves and coolers to provide anything a weary traveler could need.

“We’re providing the trucker with a warm, comfortable place,” Desautel said. “When they can only travel so many miles, then they’ve got to be out of their trucks and parked.”

Colville Fuels has seven stores across Eastern Washington, five of which sell gasoline and diesel. According to Roni Holder-Diefenbach, executive director of the Economic Alliance in Okanogan County, Colville Fuels examined best practices in the truck stop and convenience store industry as it expanded its retail operations.

Desautel said the Colville Tribes are committed to Moses Lake because they have long-standing connections to and in the Columbia Basin.

“We have aboriginal ties down here and all over Eastern Washington,” he said. “Moses Lake being named after Chief Moses is pretty significant in our history.”

In the process of expanding, Colville Fuels is employing the equivalent of 35 full-time employees in Moses Lake.

“One hundred and twenty people applied,” Desautel said. “So we overstaffed with part-time employees. Some of them will leave, and we’ll move those who stay to full time with benefits.”

Desautel said Colville Fuels has a very generous package, complete with medical, dental, vision, a matching 401(k) contribution, and vacation and sick time.

A formal grand opening, complete with a ribbon-cutting, speakers and a visit from the Colville tribal council, is set for sometime in May, according to Holder-Diefenbach.

“We hope that you like what you see,” she said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.