An alternative to grooving the runway at the Port of Orcas will be among the projects explored by WH Pacific Engineers as it provides engineering and planning services for the port over the next five years.

The firm was unanimously selected from a field of six applicants by port commissioners at their meeting last week.

“WH Pacific has the most local knowledge,” Commissioner Ulanah McCoy said. “We have worked with them before and they are familiar with our operation. We have been happy with them. They have local subcontractors and the most storm water experience.”

A new runway overlay, taxiway and ramp improvements, drainage improvements and Federal Aviation Administration aeronautical surveys are among the projects under consideration.

The current runway has not been resurfaced in 20 years. The FAA has stated that all commercial service airports must have grooved runways to keep planes from slipping in wet weather, and the agency would pay 95 percent of the cost of the resurfacing. Anacortes and San Juan Island airstrips already have grooved runways.

But Airport Manager Bea vonTobel explained that the commissioners don’t believe grooving is a practical solution for Orcas because of the current traffic on the runway and the time and money involved in grooving. The airport would need to be shut down for two weeks during warm months, the busiest time of year at the airport.

The port will ask the engineers to bid on the alternative solution of a porous friction coat. The next step will be for WH Pacific to submit a bid for the work. Then, vonTobel says, the FAA will require a second opinion from another engineering firm.

In other port business, vonTobel stated that when the airport was closed on Dec. 21 because of weather conditions she was unable to get San Juan County Public Works to plow the runway. Although they had done so in the past, they told her they now required an interlocal agreement in order to do the work. vonTobel is working with the County Prosecutor’s office on putting an agreement in place.

She also reported that a car was stolen from the Port’s long term parking area and later returned to the Anacortes ferry lot with an additional 200 miles on the speedometer.

“Three cars were attempted to be either entered or stolen, resulting in door handles damaged by the infamous ‘slim-jim’ technique,” she said. “All items have been reported to the SJC Sheriff, and photos given to owners.”

The port commissioners also voted unanimously to retain Garth Eimers as chair of the commission and McCoy as secretary.

To save funds this year, the port will hold monthly instead of twice-a-month meetings. The next meeting is Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.