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Hermiston accepts $150,000 state grant toward runway protection-zone property acquisition
Summary
Council adopted Resolution 23-59 to accept a State Department of Aviation grant of $150,000 to use as the nonfederal match for a federal FAA-backed property-acquisition program to remove Ott Road from the runway protection zone; project involves acquiring about 140 acres and requires additional matching funds.
The Hermiston City Council adopted Resolution 23-59 on March 10 to accept a $150,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Aviation as a nonfederal match toward a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) property-acquisition program for the city’s runway protection zone (RPZ).
Assistant City Manager Morgan described the project as a long-running effort to reduce the risk of vehicle-aircraft conflicts by realigning Ott Road away from the RPZ. Morgan said the FAA has programmed approximately $3.6 million in grant funding to acquire property along the runway, primarily to assemble roughly 140 acres on the relevant parcel; FAA grants require a 10% nonfederal match. The city’s total nonfederal match would otherwise be approximately $400,000; the $150,000 state grant would be applied toward that match.
Councilors framed the project as a safety initiative. Morgan said the FAA’s interest stems from an effort to move traffic out of an area “where you could potentially, very rarely happens, but it could happen that you could have an airplane and vehicle conflict.” Councilor Meyer asked whether the road would be improved; Morgan replied the intention is to relocate or improve the roadway within roughly the next 10 years but that the FAA funds are focused on land acquisition rather than immediate reconstruction.
The motion to adopt Resolution 23-59 was moved by Councilor Hayward and seconded by Councilor McCarthy. Roll call was recorded as unanimous (6–0).
