Walt and Pat Sitz, managers of the Burns Municipal Airport, were present at the Burns City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 13, to give an update to the council.

Pat presented the fuel sales numbers, and stated the airport committee had met May 25, with the main topics of discussion being an additional fuel tank, water, and the well at the airport.

She said they are in the process of collecting estimates and contacts for a nurse tank at the airport to go along with the existing 10,000-gallon fuel tank. She told the council the airport currently buys its fuel from Phillips 66, and during a recent conversation, Walt told them that the fuel contract expires soon and the city may put the contract out for bid. Walt said once they heard that, they started “sharpening their pencils” to see if they could come up with an offer to secure another contract.

Walt said Phillips 66 suggested maybe it could offer fuel at a lower price, help with the fuel tank, or lease a fuel truck to the city to help out.

He added that the city may want to hold off on purchasing a fuel tank at this time to see which fuel company comes up with the best offer for the city.

Pat said they had been contacted by a Florida company about putting an antenna on the airport beacon to provide text service to commercial airliners passing overhead. A building would also have to be put in next to the site, and a rental fee would be paid to the city for the space.

Later in the meeting, Councilor Dennis Davis, a member of the airport committee, gave a presentation on the sustainability of the airport. Using the financial reports, he said fuel sales show a profit, but overhead costs are running a deficit. To make up the difference, Davis said the options are to increase product price or increase volume. He stated that increasing prices on leases isn’t a good option because it may drive customers away, so that leaves increasing the volume. He explained that to increase the volume, there needs to be improved infrastructure at the airport to attract new businesses, and that would include a better water system.

There was some discussion about the current well situation at the airport and ways to increase the amount of water available at the airport.

Public Works Director Pedro Zabala pointed out that if you increase the amount of water used at the airport, you also increase the amount of wastewater, and that may require a lagoon.

Davis concluded by saying that the airport is not sustainable without growth.

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At a previous meeting, members of the High Desert Biomass Cooperative asked the council if they would place a five-year moratorium of the franchise fees paid to the city. City Manager Dauna Wensenk said she spoke with the city’s legal counsel who advised her that doing so would set a precedent, and other companies could then ask for the same. She added that if the council decided to grant a moratorium, it should not be done by a verbal agreement but by ordinance.

Councilor Forrest Keady stated that the city is not flush with money, and the moratorium would be “setting a terrible precedent.”

It was also brought up that the council had asked the co-op for their financial reports, but had yet to see them. The council agreed it couldn’t make an informed decision without looking at the financial statements.

Councilor Davis stated, “Taking revenue away from the city’s general fund, which is already distressed, can’t be good for us.”

After more discussion, the council agreed it didn’t have enough information yet and moved on to other business.

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The city received three bids to either remodel or replace the restrooms at Washington Park. One from Arntz-Harris Construction Co.  (remodel) in the amount of $27,500; one from Northwest Solar & Construction (replace) in the amount of $30,000; and the third from R Legacy Construction (replace) in the amount of $28,650.

The council had several questions about the proposals, so they established a four-person committee to come up with more information and will report back to the council.

During her report to the council, City Manager Wensenk thanked everyone who helped clean up after the storm on May 25. She said there are several trees at the cemetery that still need to have branches removed as they pose a danger, and one tree has to be completely removed.

She said the public works department repaired a portion of East Jefferson where the asphalt was failing, and the proposed work on runway 3-21 at the airport has been re-bid, with bid openings scheduled for June 28.

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In other business:

• Public Works Director Zabala stated his department was busy cleaning up after the May 25 storm, and thanked Tanner Crafts and Stephen Basey for their help clearing trees off streets;

• Fire Chief Scott Williamson said his department has received 75 calls already as compared to a yearly average or 105 to 110.

“We’re not even halfway through the year, so we’re on goal for maybe 150 calls this year which would be pretty record-breaking for us,” he said.

He stated the department has continued with training and maintaining equipment;

• Jen Keady reported the refurbished Central Hotel had passed the final inspections and she had applied for a business license, so the hotel was open and ready to go;

• the city received three proposals for financing the purchase of a mini-excavator. The council discussed the various financing options as well as the possibility of leasing an excavator rather than purchasing one. It was decided to get more information before making a decision;

• the council approved temporary liquor licenses for the Skull 120 bike race and after-party and a block party/birthday party at the Central Hotel.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at city hall.