Port’s airport venture cost thousands

The Port of Coupeville spent over $45,000 in an attempt to purchase the A.J. Eisenberg Airport.

By Karina Andrew • July 21, 2023 1:30 am

The Port of Coupeville spent over $45,000 in taxpayer money in a failed attempt to purchase the A.J. Eisenberg Airport.

The airport, located on Monroe Landing Road south of Oak Harbor, now belongs to private pilot Robert DeLaurentis, who officially closed on the property on Thursday.

Beginning around October 2021, the Port of Coupeville commissioners explored the idea of purchasing the small airport at the encouragement of a number of pilots who store their planes there. The community airport has fallen into disrepair in recent decades, and local aviators hoped that public investment could restore the airport to its former level of functionality and economic vitality.

After completing a $45,000 due diligence process, however, port commissioners ultimately determined that the port could not feasibly operate the airport and withdrew an offer on the property. A motion to terminate the port’s purchase and sale agreement passed in a 2-1 vote.

Expenses accrued in the process included $5,500 for a Phase 1 environmental assessment, $26,400 for a Phase 2 environmental assessment, $155 for water sampling and $13,000 in legal support, according to port Executive Director Chris Michalopoulos.

The port was fully refunded for $55,000 in escrow money it paid for the airport earlier this year.

DeLaurentis, now the owner of the airport, filed a lawsuit against the port in April claiming that the right of first refusal assigned to the port by Geri Morgan was invalid. The port filed a countersuit against DeLaurentis shortly before commissioners voted not to pursue the purchase any further. Both lawsuits have been dropped, according to DeLaurentis.

DeLaurentis said in an interview that his first priority for the airport is to make it safe for those who use it and initiate critical infrastructure repairs. He said he is having outdated fuel tanks removed from the ground on July 26.

A study is underway to determine exactly what work needs to be done on the runway, and he has applied for permits to replace the hangar roofs. Electrical work and a wetland study will also be forthcoming in the near future, he said.

“I am looking forward to working with the community and making this the best airport it’s been in many years,” DeLaurentis said.