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County and port funds approved to help build Life Flight hangar at airport
Summary
The board approved release of Port of Walla Walla and Walla Walla County economic‑development sales‑tax funds to support construction of a Life Flight hangar at the county airport; commissioners said the hangar will centralize aircraft and crews and shorten response times in rural areas.
Walla Walla County commissioners approved two related funding actions to release economic‑development sales‑tax monies for a Life Flight hangar at the county airport.
The board first approved the Port of Walla Walla’s request for its portion of previously approved sales‑tax funds. The commissioners then approved the county’s release of its portion of the sales‑tax funds to the Port for the Life Flight hangar project.
Chair (unnamed) described the project as a "fire‑station type building" that will house staff, pilots and medical crews and allow Life Flight aircraft to be co‑located and sheltered. The board noted the facility will shorten deployment times for emergencies across the county and benefit farmers and remote residents who rely on rapid air transport.
Staff and a public commenter clarified the total project cost is in the multimillion‑dollar range (one staff member referenced about $2.4 million) and that each jurisdiction's maximum request is $200,000. The board approved both motions by voice vote.
