Airport annexation is finally complete

In a 5-0 vote the Sisters City Council passed the final three resolutions that will bring the Sisters Eagle Airport into the city.

This was the final step in a process that began well before the passage of the November 6, 2012, ballot that demonstrated Sisters' overwhelming support for the annexation of the airport.

This final approval will allow owners Benny and Julie Benson to move ahead with their plans to build a new two-story building to house their expanding business, ENERGYneering Solutions Inc. The plans also include a pilot lounge, a café and covered patio, hangars, a two-story airport flex space with offices, fuel storage, heliports, a community garden, open-space/fly-in camping areas, pilot overnight accommodations, fly-in/transient aircraft parking, a recreational area, a caretaker unit and signage.

In other council business:

The proposed amphitheater project died a quiet death. In a 5-0 vote with no comment, the city has called off their amphitheater project and requested the return of their refundable deposit from the owner of the proposed site.

Bronco Billy's new owner, Bill and Tammy LLC, expect to close their purchase of the iconic Sisters restaurant on April 1. They do not intend to change, or make any radical changes in the menu offerings. They will be adding a breakfast service. The new owners live in the Plainview area and their son attends school in Sisters. The couple also owns the two Pilot Butte Drive-ins in Bend.

As a gift to the soon-to-be-completed Fir Street Park, Earthwood Homes owner Kris Calvin will donate the construction of a timber-frame structure to enhance the performance stage at the park. The City of Sisters is buying the timbers, and Calvin is doing all the jointing. The City expects to have a public "barn raising" of the structure to help celebrate the opening of the park. Calvin will also be giving timber-framing lessons at the site for a fee.