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Prineville officials report busy airport operations tied to wildfire response; multiple city projects progress
Summary
City staff reported heavy airport activity supporting wildfire response, completion timelines for Third Street and South Main waterline projects, a $4 million federal grant for the airport's crosswind runway routed through the county, and planning updates on multifamily developments and the Humane Society expansion.
City staff told the Prineville City Council on Sept. 17 that the airport has been unusually busy supporting wildfire response and that the city secured a $4,000,000 federal grant (to be processed through the county) to rebuild the older crosswind runway.
The city presenter described multiple helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft operating from Prineville in support of fire operations, heavy fuel sales, and construction of about four new hangars. "We were successful in securing that $4,000,000 federal grant, which would be going through the county," the presenter said, adding the funds are expected to be applied to the crosswind runway.
On public works, staff said the Third Street ODOT project still anticipates completion in October and the South Main Street waterline project is underway; bid openings earlier in the meeting returned lower-than-anticipated prices, which staff said will stretch a previously mentioned $2 million housing-related grant across more projects. Planning staff reported progress on several multifamily projects, including a project behind Reyes and the Ochicombeal Apartments, and noted the Humane Society of Ochoco has broken ground on an expansion project.
Public-safety updates included a Shop With a Cop fundraiser scheduled for Oct. 12 and the recent start of Officer Gabriel Gibson; the police evidence department will receive a third-party audit to support accreditation work, and dispatch accreditation steps are underway. Staff also reminded council about public-meetings law webinars and upcoming supplemental budget presentations.
Council had follow-up questions about smoke and airport operations during heavy fire response; staff said smoke has at times limited visibility and caused delays but that pilots and airport technology helped manage operations.
Staff did not bring major new contract approvals for these items at the meeting; they provided status updates and scheduled future briefings for budget and implementation details.
