Pacific City Sun, January, 5, 2018

news&community

diningguide DORYLAND PIZZA, CAPE KIWANDA DRIVE, PACIFIC CITY. 503-965-6299. Fun, family atmosphere with four televisions and a big screen plasma TV to enjoy sporting events or your favorite shows. Established from the remodeled Pacific City Boat Works building built in the 1960s, Doryland retained the nautical atmosphere with its solid wood planked floors, brass accents and original charm. They added great pizza, sandwiches, salad bar, beer & wine, and video games. Open 11-8 Sunday-Thursday, 11-9 Friday & Saturday.

GRATEFUL BREAD BAKERY, 34805 BROOTENRD., PACIFIC CITY. 503-965-7337. Breakfast and lunch featuring vegetarian specialties, bakery breads, homemade soups, and fresh seafood served Thursday-Monday, starting at 8 a.m. Dinner served (Thursday-Monday) starting at 4:30 p.m. Also serving beer, wine and homemade desserts. Drive-thru espresso opens at 6:30 a.m.

PELICAN PUB & BREWERY, 33180 CAPE KIWANDA DRIVE, PACIFIC CITY. 503-965-7007. Ocean front brewery featuring award-winning Pelican brews, great food, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner served daily. Open Sun– Thurs 8am-10pm and Fri–Sat 8am-11pm.

SPORTSMAN’S PUB-N-GRUB, 34975 BROOTEN ROAD, PACIFIC CITY. 503-965-9991. Dating back to 1947 the original Sportsman’s Tavern was the only local watering hole and meeting spot for locals and visitors alike. It was the place people called for weather, fishing and news of locals as it had the only pay phone at the time. Things haven’t changed much — today the Sportsman’s is still a favorite meeting spot for locals and visitors alike. Although now food is a great attraction with locally caught fish from Sea Q Fish featuring dory fresh lingcod and sea bass prepared at the Sportsman’s is being hailed as the best fish and chips anywhere.

The fresh oysters from T&S oyster farm in Netarts have a huge local following and are delivered fresh every Friday. Come try some great grub at great prices and rub elbows with the locals.

STIMULUS, 33105 CAPE KIWANDA DRIVE, PACIFIC CITY. 503-965-4661. Beautiful Ocean view espresso café serving Five Rivers Coffee, organic teas, and locally made pastries. Stimulus offers a large selection of breakfast sandwiches, homemade soups, hot Panini sandwiches, and salads. Open every day of the year from 6 am till 6 pm.

SUNRISE DELI, 31020 HIGHWAY 101 S., HEBO, LOCATED INSIDE NESTUCCA VALLEY SPORTING GOODS. 503-392-4269.

Home of Grandma Gefre’s home made clam chowder, Texas beans and home made potato salad. Comfort foods such as fresh made deli sandwiches and 1/3 pound hamburgers’ made to order your way. Add double cut fries and you have a real meal.

TWIST WINE CO., 6425 PACIFIC AVE, PACIFIC CITY. 503965-NUTS. At Twist Wine Company we showcase wines from our three brands: Reversal, Basket Case and Shy Chenin. We believe wine is about having fun. We are a wine lounge, wi-fi hotspot and offer four microbrews on draft.

The Dining Guide is an advertiser-supported section of the Sun. For information on having your restaurant added, contact publisher Tim Hirsch at503-801-5221 or tim@pacificcitysun.com.

Pier Avenue Rock Shop Sunstones

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The Forecast is for:

SUN in Pacific City The next issue of the Pacific City Sun hits stands Jan. 19. Call 503-801-5221 to reserve space for your business.

Ad Deadline is January 15.

Public-private debate over airport continues

By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun

P

ublic or private? That was the central question during a discussion on the future of the Pacific City State Airport held during the Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting on Jan. 2.

A panel featuring members of the Oregon Department of Aviation, together with a representative of the pilot community, led the discussion on how — and by whom — the airport Photo by Tim Hirsch will be managed in the future. ODA THE DEBATE over private or public management of the Pacific City staff present included Mitch Swecker, State Airport continued at a Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of director of ODA, Matt Moss, airport Commerce meeting on Jan. 2. manager for ODA and John Wilson, require that should the family no longer want to run the operation specialist for ODA. Repreairport, that the land would revert back to the ODA so senting the pilot community was part-time Pacific City they could resume ownership and management of the resident Robyn Holdman, of Sisters, whose husband airport. regularly flies into the airport.

A GROUP EFFORT? In his opening remarks, Swecker assured meetOne idea put forth

by Holdman was to establish a ing attendees that first and foremost that ODA has no consortium that, together with ODA and other governintention of closing the airport, but, rather is looking for ment bodies, could jointly take responsibility for the a safer way to run it. airport.

She said that while she appreciates the offer of “What we’re really interested in is keeping the airBruun to take responsibility for the airport she had conport viable and making it safer,” he said. “A private citicerns over the loss of control she believes would result zen may have more capability to do (that) than we do.” under private ownership.

Moss said of primary concern is the proximity of “I really want to thank Kurt Bruun because I think buildings to the airport. It is because of this, he said, it was pretty noble stepping forward saying he would that the PCSA doesn’t meet minimum standards estabbuy this airport to keep it open, but what I’d like to think lished by the state. about is how we can all (work) together and keep it “It’s still a safe airport to operate at,” he added. open,” she said.

“Why can’t it still be run by the State of “However, you do have to have a lot more skill and we Oregon?

Why can’t the county take more role in mainteencourage pilots not to use it (for) training. As Mitch nance? Why can’t the Port of Tillamook step forward and would say, it’s a varsity level airport. You need to have a be the official manager, and they be the one to apply for lot more skill (to land here).”

TLT funds and aviation funds? Why can’t the Tillamook He said another issue is winter storms and the Pilot’s Association be stakeholders and be the ones out rainfall they bring. there with their sleeves turned up and pulling out some “That airport is often underwater (and) when we debris after the storms? And why can’t we form a group have those storm surges, we have a lot of driftwood that called Friends of Pacific City Airport where all of us as comes up on the runway.” stakeholders could take some responsibility off (ODA)?

Noting that some logs have weighed as much as They do have a lot of airports, and we can’t blame them 400 pounds, he said that it’s not just a matter of one guy for being stretched thin.” loading up a pickup truck, but an effort that involves Bruun, who operates other private landing strips in cutting up the large logs before hauling away. the state, said he has concerns with the group approach.

With those issues at the forefront, Moss said that “It either needs to stay with the ODA, I think, or it ODA had open ears when part-time Pacific City resident needs to go to one entity or individual because deciKurt Bruun approached the department following a sions need to be made like it needs to be restriped or 2012 community meeting discussing the continued viit needs to be fog coated or the runway needs to be ability of the airport. paved,” he said. “Someone needs to have the funds “It’s important for me to be able to fly here,” Bruun said. “I never want to see an airport close. I’m a passion- and the availability to actively do it when it needs to be done. I think a consortium would be tough. I think a ate aviator. That’s why I approached (ODA).” private entity could work well.

Though she recognized some of the challenges of “I’m not doing this for the money,” he added. “It’s the airport, Holdman said she took issue with a couple going to cost (more than $20,000 to $30,000) a year just of points. First, she expressed her disappointment with to keep it open. I’m willing to pay that because I care what she saw as a lack of transparency earlier in the about it.” decision-making process.

With an eye on a possible transfer or sale, ODA has “My concern is that this hasn’t been a very transparalready had an appraiser take a look at the property, ent process,” she said. “This past year, there have been which came back at $10. Swecker said the appraisal closed-door executive sessions to discuss the future of came back “unusually low” because of the frequent this airport. It was discouraging (as) Mitch, in 2012, told flooding as well as the fact that, because of the deed us as they were thinking about closing that they would restrictions in place, it can only be used for an airport. not move forward and proceed without gathering pub“When the appraiser came out to the airport, (it) lic input. I tend to be a person who believes in involving was under water, and the waterline went up to our the community at the start, in showing that respect.” property limits,” Moss said. “It is a revenue negative airShe also challenged the assertion that the airport is port. We don’t make any money and it costs us money to not suitable for pilot training. operate. That is something that has to be kept in mind if “Where we have our house, we see every plane that someone is going to take the airport over. They have to comes in here,” Holdman said. “At least 50 percent of realize that this is not a money-making venture. It is be(the planes) have two people sitting in them that land cause they’re passionate about aviation, and they want and then take off. This is a very important airport for to see the Pacific City Airport continue in its current training and those are individuals, pilot and instructor, form or in an improved form that potentially a private who are learning how to land on a short airstrip.” entity would be able to do.”

Another one of her contentions was the issue of One such possible improvement would be by purwho is best qualified to run the airport. chasing available surroundings — something that ODA “I thought that (the ODA was) the experts on how officials said private citizens can more readily do — and to make an airport safe, just like the people from ODOT has the potential to increase safety at the landing strip. are the experts on how to run a safe public road,” she The issue of the airport will be taken up again said. during a listening session hosted by Tillamook County She also voiced concerns over what would hapCommissioners, together with Rep. David Gomberg (Dpen should Bruun suddenly pass away and his family Otis) and Sen. Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay) on Monday, not wish to continue operating the airport. To address Jan. 8, starting at 5 p.m., at Kiawanda Community Centhat issue, both ODA officials and Bruun said the idea ter, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. would be to have language in the agreement that would Page 8 • Pacific City SUN • January 5, 2018