Illinois Valley News

Issues surrounding the Illinois Valley Airport dominated the discussion during the hour-long Tuesday, June 22 Josephine County Board of Commissioners administrative meeting at the courthouse in Grants Pass.

Agenda items included selection of a temporary replacement for Airports Manager Alex Grossi, who it“s anticipated will be on leave from four to six weeks.

Public Works Director Rob Brandes and Chief Financial Officer Rosemary DeLashmutt had been suggested as possible interim airport managers when the matter had come up previously. But Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli, who serves as airports liaison, said that Vance Stromme and Sally Pursell would be willing to handle the daily operations at both of the county“s airports.

Pursell is a part-time airport administrative staffer, and Stromme does maintenance work at the airports.

Commissioner Dave Toler said that his preference was to have Grossi“s duties handled by a member of the county“s management staff.

Brandes stated that he would be willing to commit a maximum of one to two hours per week on the manager“s duties. Cassanelli said that would not be adequate.

Toler insisted that the county needs someone with administrative capabilities to fill the position. He moved that Brandes be appointed as Grossi“s temporary replacement, and Chairman Dwight Ellis seconded. The motion passed 2-0, with Cassanelli abstaining.

Cassanelli brought up an e-mail that was sent by Kenny Houck from the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization. She said that according to that correspondence, Houck was promised that contractors from Illinois Valley would have the chance to bid on the fence project at I.V. Airport, located a few miles south of Cave Junction. Those bids are to close July 1.

“Obviously they didn“t get the notice,“ Cassanelli observed.

Toler said that he was told of the situation on Friday, June 18, when he visited I.V. Airport to participate in the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum Project week.

Cassanelli said that bids for the fence were noticed in early June, but that tenants at the airport wanted to discuss the fence location with the project engineer.

The engineer wanted to come to Grants Pass July 1 at 11 a.m. to discuss the fence modifications, Cassanelli said, adding that she reserved the Anne G. Basker Auditorium for the occasion.

But a meeting with prospective bidders for the project was set for 1 p.m. that same day. That prompted concerns from Toler about change orders.

Cassanelli said that the engineer wanted suggestions on fence designs sent to him prior to his trip to Grants Pass to determine if any changes would comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

Toler said that changes would have to come back to the board of commissioners prior to being approved. Brandes agreed, and said that any change orders required as an addendum would have to be sent to all the parties who bid on the project.

Otherwise, Brandes said, the county could be sued.

Toler asked Brandes to establish protocol for the process. Brandes replied that he would obtain a copy of the Request for Proposal for the airport fence project as soon as possible.

Also brought up by Cassanelli was the lack of fuel at I.V. Airport. She said it“s entirely possible that gas stations in Cave Junction could provide such a service.

Ellis said he supports the addition of a fueling facility at the site, but that it would have to be approved by the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, FAA and other agencies. There also are insurance issues involved, Ellis said, adding that past fueling operations at the airport did not bring in enough business to cover insurance.

Toler said that he would like to see somebody come up with a business plan for selling fuel at the airport in order to determine its feasibility. He said he would favor the county providing an economic development grant to help a firm with any startup costs, but that his main concern is with the long-term viability of such an operation.

During the meeting, commissioners also voted 3-0 to pass a resolution authorizing the sale of county-owned property to the state through the Oregon Dept. of Transportation for a permanent easement.

The two small easements, located near the county building on Redwood Hwy., are needed for a project to add traffic signals to River Street.

Property Manager Phil Killian said that the county will receive a $350 check for the easements.

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