♻ Airport Additions to Renewables: What Klickitat BOCC Is Working On - 12/16-12/23

🏛 Klickitat County Board of Commissioners

Late December 2025 Meetings (Dec. 16 & Dec. 23)

🚧 Public Works, Roads & Facilities

Commissioners approved several Public Works items, including equipment-rate updates required by state law, security-alarm contracts, and contractor notices for upcoming bridge repair projects. Work continues on:

• Bridge repair bundles (deck and joint repairs) now moving through award processes
• Snowden Road overlay and curve-warning signage installation
• Wood Gulch Bridge, fully reimbursed by a renewable-energy developer using the route
• Routine east- and west-county maintenance, including winter prep, ditching, guardrails, and tree removal

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✈️ Meanwhile, at the Airport…

If you’ve noticed more buzz around Gorge-area airports lately, you’re not imagining it.

At the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, Klickitat County has been wrapping up long-planned improvements, including hangar work and infrastructure upgrades, with only minor punch-list items remaining. These projects are part of a slow but steady effort to make the airfield safer, more functional, and better positioned for the future.

Across the river, the Port of Hood River is also working toward a shared regional goal: making the Gorge’s airports more financially self-sustaining. Recent reporting highlights efforts to balance aviation needs, maintenance costs, and revenue from hangars and leases. This is a challenge faced by nearly every small rural airport.

Why it matters locally:

• Small airports support emergency response, wildfire operations, medical transport, agriculture, and local business, not just recreational flying.
• Hangars and leases are one of the few tools airports have to cover operating costs without relying entirely on public subsidies.
• As infrastructure ages, both ports and counties are grappling with how to pay for long-term upkeep while keeping access affordable.

In short: no flashy announcements, but a lot of quiet, practical work aimed at keeping Gorge aviation viable and funded for the long haul.

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🛣 Community Input: Lock Hill / Snowden Road Area

Public Works hosted a non-decision open house to gather public input on possible future improvements near the Lock Hill / Snowden Road corridor. Options presented ranged from simple overlays to full rebuilds. No funding is secured, and no project is moving forward yet — this was purely an information-gathering step.

🌲 Parks & Community Project Requests

The Board discussed legislative funding requests from Wishram and Dallesport for park improvements. Commissioners emphasized:

• Legislative funding must flow through the county
• Planning grants are more realistic than construction funding at this stage
• Ongoing concern about long-term maintenance costs, especially for restrooms and utilities

No applications were approved yet; staff were directed to continue conversations and report back quickly due to end-of-year legislative deadlines.

🚽 Dallesport Wastewater Survey Results

Public Works presented results from a third-party, door-to-door survey of Dallesport wastewater customers:

• Average satisfaction score: 7.5 out of 10
• 12.6% support transferring system ownership to Klickitat PUD
• 61.2% neutral
• 26.2% opposed, largely due to rate concerns

The survey was conducted independently to avoid bias and will inform future discussions; no decision was made.

🏗 Planning & Development Updates

The Planning Department reported major end-of-year workload pressure, with a surge of short plats and boundary line adjustments before regulatory deadlines.

Key planning items included:

• Solar & Battery Storage Ordinance: Advanced through Planning Commission; awaiting legal review. A recommendation is unlikely before February.
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Staff plan a January workshop and may propose splitting changes into two amendments to speed relief for applicants.
• Comprehensive Plan Update: Phase II work plan and outreach strategy are being finalized, with spring public engagement anticipated.
• Short-Term Rentals: Staff confirmed work is underway with a goal of a February workshop and March public hearing.

💼 County Organization & Staffing

Staff updated the Board on progress toward combining county departments under a County Administrator structure, with the goal of providing clarity and stability for employees early in 2026.

IT staff requested approval to retain a retiring employee on a short-term, hourly basis in January to finish critical network work. No objections were raised.

♻ Solid Waste & Recycling

Solid Waste staff reported:

• The Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Plan draft will be ready for Board review before being sent to Ecology
• Republic Services will roll out new recycling routes beginning January 12, with public outreach planned
• Horse Thief Landfill post-closure monitoring is complete, pending final Ecology sign-off

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🧭 What to Watch Next

• Solar & battery storage ordinance legal review
• ADU rule changes and fee schedule discussions
• Short-term rental ordinance timeline
• Legislative grant decisions for parks and infrastructure
• Follow-up on wastewater system governance in Dallesport

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🗓 Join the Next Klickitat County BOCC Meeting

📍 Klickitat County Board of Commissioners
Meetings are typically held Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m., some items continuing into the afternoon or evening. Next meeting is scheduled for December 30th.

💻 Join via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/586587651

📞 Dial-in:
1-346-248-7799
Meeting ID: 586 587 651

🗣 Public Comment:

• In-person comments are taken during the designated public comment period.
• Written comments may be submitted to bocc@klickitatcounty.org and must be received by noon the day prior to be acknowledged at the meeting.