MOSES LAKE — Port of Moses Lake commissioners decided to contract for their aircraft rescue services, which means their public safety department ceases to exist.

Port attorney Harold Moberg asked the board of commissioners to approve a letter of understanding with Arizona-based contracting company Rural Metro to offer aircraft rescue and firefighting services.

Moberg said he needs to work with the local union to figure out if there is a way to lessen the impact to employees of the public safety department.

The intent is to disband the department, Moberg said, noting it was not an easy decision to make.

Port Commissioner Larry Peterson concurred, saying the commissioners agonized over the decision.

The port reached the decision to contract following loss of its commercial air service last year. Without a carrier, Moberg said, the decision to contract results in a savings of about $238,000 without a day supervisor.

The department employs eight full-time employees.

The district would contract with Rural Metro for three years with an option for two more, Moberg said.

"All of us at Public Safety are extremely saddened you cannot find a way to save our retirement," Public Safety employee Jack Zeilenga said during the public comment period in the meeting. "Ten, 15 years down the toilet."

Zeilenga declined to comment further after the meeting.

Moberg declined to comment on Zeilenga's comments, because he said he did not understand Zeilenga's statement.

During the meeting, port Executive Manager Craig Baldwin reported on his recent meetings with the Port of Seattle and Boeing.

For any community in Washington, Oregon and Idaho without air service who begins air service to Seattle, the Seattle port is willing to waive fees for the first year, leaving air carrier and start-up costs, and if service remains at 75 percent of start-up capacity, the subsidy continues for a second year, Baldwin said. The fee waiving would help the district as it attempts to find a carrier to restore air service to Grant County International Airport.

Air America President and CEO Larry Godden asked during the public comment portion of the meeting if the district had heard from anybody interested in assuming the commissioner position presently held by Kent Jones in the upcoming election.

Jones is not eligible for re-election for his present position because he moved outside of his commission district.

The port said it had not yet heard from anybody expressing interest. The filing period runs from June 4 through June 8.