PORT TOWNSEND — There’s a lot up in the air and landing on the table at Jefferson County International Airport.
The Port of Port Townsend, which operates the airport, has several proposed services and changes to consider.
* Jerry Thuotte, president of the Port Townsend Aero Museum, which is under construction, has begun to negotiate for land just west of the museum to build a 6,000-square-foot aviation repair hangar with adjoining work facilities, including a repair shop and paint booth.
* Port Townsend Aircraft Services, the airport’s fixed-base operation, wants to offer a mobile jet fuel operation proposed for the likes of private jets and U.S. Coast Guard helicopters.
* The Port of Port Townsend commissioners also must consider what to do with the Wills House, a former home converted into commercial office space in the early 1990s.
The building is between the Spruce Goose Cafe and Port Townsend Aircraft Services.
Options include moving to another airport site for possible use by U.S. Customs or Port administrative offices backup space in the event of an earthquake or tsunami at Hudson Point.
* Relocation of a new Spruce Goose Cafe on the site of the Wills House, once that structure is moved or demolished.
Port of Port Townsend commissioners last week directed Port staff to move forward on negotiations for Thuotte’s lease.
Thanking the commissioners, Thuotte said, “We can now spend the money to get the ball going.”
He said the museum has already cost $2.5 million, which is about half of the building’s real value. Labor has been donated by contractors.
“Jerry’s project needs wrapping up,” said Herb Beck, Port commissioner of Quilcene.
Port commissioners are also awaiting word on a Corps of Engineers permit for storm water improvements to make way for infrastructure and taxiways to support 65 hangars.
The hangars would be configured in eight buildings to hold six to 12 aircraft.
The contract on the project was awarded nearly a year ago to Seton Construction of Port Townsend at $1.5 million.
