Since 2005, the Port of Kennewick appears to have become incapable of completing challenging projects such as the Spaulding Business Center and the stalled wine business center on the Tri-City Raceway property purchased by the port for $1.75 million. Instead of lobbying the Legislature to annex this property to West Richland to obtain the necessary utilities, the port wanted to waste $65,000 to change its name!
In other absurdity, port officials elected to keep the "nonairport" Vista Field Airport open in spite of the $60,000 consultant conclusion and without informing the local taxpayers of the possible financial consequences of operating at a loss.
Vista Airport is deemed an undersized and limited-use airport by the Federal Aviation Administration, and does not receive millions of dollars in grant money like the Richland ($13 million over the past 13 years ) and Pasco Airports do.
Vista Airport occupies the only remaining centrally located prime commercial development property in Kennewick, with the development potential to easily exceed $100 million, which could generate huge tax revenues. Instead, we have an airport that is usable by just a few residents. When will we finally impose some checks and balances on the Port of Kennewick?
Bob Ogata, Kennewick
