Port of Othello lowers airport water costs

OTHELLO — Port of Othello Commissioners discussed utility water line charges during Tuesday’s meeting following a motion made at the Feb. 27 meeting to lower the monthly line charge and turn-off and turn-on fees for water users at Othello Municipal Airport.

The motion, which was made by Commissioner Homer Montemayor and seconded by Commissioner Gary Weaver, passed 2 to 1, with Commissioner Deena Vietzke opposed. The motion lowered the monthly line charge from $100 to $50, and lowered turn-on and turn-off fees from $1,200 to $100. The water rates were unchanged.

Gary Weaver introduced the agenda item during the Feb. 27 meeting, stating that he had an issue charging $1,200 for turn-off and turn-on service. 

“They’re separate. Bruce is Bruce, our airport is our airport,” Weaver said. “I think if we're going to get our airport to grow and attract people here, we can't charge them these exorbitant (charges).”

The water charges were last modified March 14, 2023, according to the minutes, when Weaver made a motion to install water meters at the airport and begin charging $50 for the monthly line charge, which passed unanimously.

Port Executive Director Chris Faix explained that at the following March 28, 2023 meeting, he and the commissioners realized that they had not removed the annual line charges already in place for the airport. Former Commissioner Kenny Schutte had proposed changing the annual line charge to match the monthly line fee being charged at Bruce, which is $100.

“It makes our bookkeeping easier,” Faix said. “That way it's just $100 straight …That way it looks the same when we get audited, and it doesn't send up red flags.”

Faix said charging less for the water line at the airport might look bad in an audit. 

“(What if) our auditor says, ‘Why are you charging the airport differently? Why are you charging 30 customers out there one rate, and then you charge these three something less when you're still operating a water system, and you still have to pay for the piping?” he asked.

Weaver said the difference in charges can be explained to the auditors.

“At the airport, we don't have a water tower, we don't have a chlorination system, we don't have two wells, we don’t have all that infrastructure,” he said.

Faix also explained the motivation behind the turn-on and turn-off fees.

“The reason we made it $1,200 was because that's the same as paying $100 a month, so that way there's no benefit turning it off and on,” he said.

Weaver responded to Faix, saying he still did not want to charge the users of the three water lines at the airport that much. 

“I understand where you're coming from, but I don't think it's fair … trying to make the three of them pay for our water system,” Weaver said.

Weaver expressed that he wanted to make it a $50 monthly line charge, with a turn-off and turn-on fee of $100, which Montemayor motioned for.

Vietzke said she wanted to stick with the $100 monthly line charge.

“It just seems like it's been a year, no one's complaining,” she said. “Why change it when it makes it easier for our books and for the auditors?”

Faix said switching the rates too frequently could be its own red flag with the auditor’s office, and that he is still worried the charges could raise concerns with the auditors and that there will be less revenue from the airport, which has an aging water system.

“I'm afraid some of those pipes are going to need to be replaced,” he said.

Montemayor said he thought it’s unfair to treat the airport and Bruce the same considering there are significantly more users and a larger infrastructure at Bruce.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Vietzke again said she is concerned with charging the airport less, and said she would like to reinstate the annual line charge of $325 for a 2-inch line and $487 for a 3-inch line, in addition to the approved $50 monthly line charge. She said the overall charges would still be significantly less than they have been since March 2023. 

Weaver said he considers an annual charge and a monthly charge double-dipping, and he would rather raise water rates than increase the line charges or fees.

“If we don't have enough people to support our water system at the airport, that's our fault,” Weaver said. “The proper way to get more revenue from the water is to raise the rates … that's the proper way for a government entity to do things.”

Commissioners also discussed the possibility of increasing the line charge for the 3-inch lines at the airport, which are currently being charged the price of a 2-inch line, unlike at Bruce. 

After significant discussion, the commissioners decided to table the annual line charge discussion for the next meeting.

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.

    Port of Othello Executive Director Chris Faix participates in discussion during the port’s regular meeting Feb. 13.
  

    The exterior and sign for the Port of Othello’s offices at the intersection of South Seventh Avenue and East Hemlock Street. Port commissioners approved two to one lower monthly water line charges and a lower turn-off and turn-on fee during their regular Feb. 27 meeting.