Council pushes airport project forward

MOSES LAKE — City council members voted Tuesday to move forward with an irrigation project that would put a greenbelt alongside the runway of the Moses Lake Municipal Airport.

“Greenbelt” is a general term that refers to natural, undeveloped or agricultural lands around or within urban areas.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, municipal services director Dave Bren said greenbelts are a common feature of many small airports, used for airshows, emergencies and flight operations.

“A greenbelt adjacent to the runway is a traditional and needed facility for an airport,” he said.

The proposed greenbelt is also an essential element in the revitalization of the airport, Bren said.

The estimated cost for the project is $50,000 to $60,000.

Two options exist for obtaining the irrigation water needed for the proposed greenbelt. Water could come directly from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, a federal agency which oversees water resource management. Such water is already being used to water a field of grass on the east side of the airport, Bren said. Alternatively, the city could provide metered water.

Bren said using Bureau of Reclamation water is ideal.

“Instead of putting drinking water on green spaces, we’re putting irrigation water on green spaces so that we can have more drinking water for the city,” he said.

The motion to move forward with the airport irrigation project passed unanimously, with the stipulation that Bureau of Reclamation water be used if possible. The project could begin as early as fall.

City council members also voted unanimously Tuesday to dissolve the interlocal agreement for police chief services between Moses Lake and Mattawa.

Mattawa City Council members voted Sept. 16 to terminate the agreement, as well as to allow Mattawa Mayor Maria Celaya to negotiate an interlocal agreement with the city of Granger for an interim police chief.

Moses Lake Police Department Capt. Mike Williams was Mattawa’s interim chief under the previous agreement. He resigned Sept. 10 from the role in Mattawa, citing “instability” and a “toxic” environment, but agreed to stay another week.

In his resignation letter, Williams advised against hiring another interim chief because the Mattawa department needs stability.

After adopting two ordinances earlier this month to authorize prorated utility billing, the council voted Tuesday to postpone the effective date from Oct. 1 to Jan. 1, 2022.

The primary trainer for the new utility billing software reportedly experienced a medical emergency last week, necessitating a delay. A new interim consultant has been assigned.

Current billing practices will continue through the end of 2021.