Port of Coupeville commissioners passed a motion Oct. 27 encouraging Island County to purchase the A.J. Eisenberg Airport in Oak Harbor.

Local pilots have been hoping for years that the port might purchase the airport, believing public ownership to be the best chance to revitalize it, and port officials have entertained the idea, both in 2009 and earlier this year when the airport went up for sale.

Now, port commissioners seem to think the county is the best party to make the purchase. But that’s not to say the port wouldn’t be involved in this scenario; County Commissioner Jill Johnson said the county would only be interested in purchasing the airport if another public entity, such as the port, would own and operate it.

“We do not want to operate the airport or be the underlying property owner,” she said. “But we are willing to help in the purchase because of the importance of having an airport as an element of the island’s transportation infrastructure.”

The port’s motion followed an executive session to “consider the selection of a site or the acquisition of real estate,” as per the Revised Code of Washington. Port commissioners passed the motion of encouragement unanimously and agreed to send a letter to the county supporting a potential purchase.

“I think it leaves the door open to go any one of many directions,” port Commissioner John Mishasek said of the motion’s noncommittal phrasing. “We’re not saying we’re trying to force Island County to do one thing or the other. It’s not committing us to do one thing or the other.”

The airport went up for sale in August, with a price tag of $2.1 million.