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Pen Air Could Return to Klamath by October
This article was in Thursday’s (April 21st, 2016) Herald and News
Written By: Holly Dillemuth, H&N Staff Reporter
It’s been a celebratory week for local leaders in the Klamath Basin.
Applause broke out at the South Portal building Thursday morning as Klamath Falls Mayor Todd Kellstrom announced to a room full of community members and leaders that the Transportation Security Administration will return to Klamath Falls this year.
“We have it on good authority that TSA is coming to Klamath Falls,” Kellstrom said.
“It’s a good day to be alive and be in Klamath Falls.”
Pen Air will follow suit and is expected to kickstart operations in Klamath Falls in October, according to City Manager Nathan Cherpeski.
“TSA will still need some lead time to come back and reoccupy their space here,” Cherpeski said.
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed legislation renewing and updating the Federal Aviation Administration’s authorities, according to a news release, which includes a bipartisan provision pushed by Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Oregon democrats, called the Treating Small Airports with Fairness Act.
John Barsalou, manager of the Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport, said the city is waiting for a written response from the TSA as to when they will arrive.
Less than 24 hours after the passage of the TSA Fairness Act, the U.S. Senate also passed an energy bill that includes a provision that provides tools to better manage water, and to encourage water and power conservation to benefit agriculture and wildlife. The bill, sponsored by Merkley and Wyden, passed 85-12.
“Klamath was included in an amendment to the Senate energy bill that contains key measures for our Klamath farmers and ranchers,” said Scott White, executive director for the Klamath Water Users Association. “Those measures cover improving infrastructure, addressing the rising cost of power and also improving water efficiency within the Klamath Project.
Since 2001, White said Klamath County has faced 10 governor-declared droughts.
“Our water users are facing more issues than ever and there is fear in our water user community for the security of their families and their way of life,” White said.
“This week marks a step in the right direction that we all want to be going.”
Wyden’s field representative Wayne Kinney and Merkley’s field representative Amy Amrhein also spoke at the event on behalf of the Senate delegation.
To learn more, check out the Friday edition of the Herald and News in print or online at www.heraldandnews.com.
