I.V. Airport lease looks up in the air
From our weekly issue dated February 13, 2008
Illinois Valley Airport was once again a topic for discussion by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, this time during a meeting Tuesday, Feb. 5 in the county courthouse.
All three commissioners were present for the meeting.
The agenda item that spurred the discussion was a request for clarification of airport lease agreement procedures. Prior to the departure of Chief Operating Officer Marie Hill, she had the responsibility for reviewing the agreements.
However, upon her leaving, that responsibility was shifted to county Property Manager Phil Killian and county Airports Manager Alex Grossi. Commissioner Jim Raffenburg is the “liaison commissioner” for the process.
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Initially the discussion was tabled, as Raffenburg had not had the opportunity to speak to Grossi to obtain his input.
On Thursday, after Killian and Grossi exited the meeting, Illinois Valley resident Roger Brandt requested that the commissioners reopen the discussion, and they allowed Brandt to voice his concerns.
Brandt’s complaint centers on a proposed lease agreement the county is considering with Cave Junction residents Don & Luz Moore, who want to open a smoked barbecue restaurant at the airport. Brandt opposes the lease because he wishes to open the restaurant and have it operated in conjunction with a proposed smokejumper museum.
The airport management offered a lease to the smokejumper group in August 2007 but received no response from the group other than statements that the lease was not acceptable. Brandt claimed, “We have been put through a fairly contorted path here.”
Raffenburg was quick to respond by stating that a “sweetheart deal” lease had been offered to the smokejumper group and had been rejected. He added that the group wants the buildings with no financial outlay, only offering “elbow grease” as compensation for the use of the buildings.
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He further added his belief that there has been no demonstration or evidence that the group is capable of raising the necessary capital to open the restaurant.
Commissioner Dwight Ellis said, “It’s not that big an issue.”
He reiterated Raffenburg’s feeling that there is a lack of financial backing for Brandt’s ideas, saying further that with the proposal by the Moores, “It seems to me that there is room to complement each other.”
Don Moore repeatedly has stated that he wants the restaurant to have a smokejumper theme, as it would fit well with his smoked barbecue concept. Moore also has said that he would welcome working with the smokejumper group to help develop the museum plan.
Ellis also said he couldn’t understand why the one building was so essential for the museum project.
Brandt responded negatively to Ellis’ suggestion of cooperation by saying, “In a way, it feels like the Moores are stealing our idea.”
As to the essential nature of the restaurant building itself, Brandt said it would be difficult “to retain the motivation of volunteers” without the restaurant building as part of the package.
Commission Chairman Dave Toler also stated that he is not convinced of adequate financial support for the museum. But he went on to suggest that Brandt’s group come up with an acceptable lease agreement for county review.
It appears that his suggestion now leaves the situation for the smokejumper group to come up with an appropriate lease agreement acceptable to the county and to demonstrate that sufficient financial backing is currently available to move forward.
