Among numerous items passed on Tuesday night, the Cortez City Council unanimously approved a contract to establish a second fixed base operator for the Cortez Municipal Airport.

Tim and Leslie Dietz of Lewis, the owners of Mesa Verde Aviation, were given the opportunity, once a financial statement is reviewed by the city, to compete with the current operator of Cortez Flying Service. Bill Moore, who owns Cortez Flying Service, has provided airline services at the Cortez airport for 30 years.

Because the Cortez airport receives federal funding, the council must provide a "level playing field" for any fixed base operator who wishes to provide services, even if there is no real need perceived.

"There are no other situations where two FBOs are located at a small commercial service or small general-aviation airport in the state of Colorado," explained Russ Machen, the airport assistant manager, to the council.

"I don’t anticipate that both entities will survive based on the current level of business at Cortez; however, that is not for us to judge," Machen wrote in a memo to the board. "We must make the opportunity available."

A fixed base operator provides refueling for aircraft, communicates airport conditions to pilots, may help with aircraft-engine trouble, and in some cases will provide pilot training and air-taxi services for customers.

John Patton, a Mancos pilot, warned the board members that they could lose both FBOs if they went into competition. "Two FBOs can’t make a living here. You have an excellent FBO here, and I would hate to see anything done that would change that."

Before voting in favor of the second FBO, all of the board members expressed regret that they were between a "rock and a hard place."

"It’s a sad event to do something that may be detrimental to both of you," council member Cheryl Walkenhorst explained to Dietz and Moore. "It’s just a difficult decision to make."

Under the contract, Mesa Verde Aviation will pay $205 a month to lease ground for their main hanger. MVA does not have the use of the existing facilities, so they plan to install a temporary building to use as an office and lounge. The city also gave a 2-cent-lower per-gallon flowage fee to Mesa Verde Aviation since only Cortez Flying Service benefits from the city-owned fuel-storage facility.

In other business:

•  The Sedona Estates annexation is almost completed. Over 20 acres of undeveloped land at the eastern end of Andrew Lane and south of the right-of-way alignment of 11th Street will be annexed to the city if council approves the annexation after a public hearing on March 13.

The property is owned by Freida and Waldo Whitener, and will be subdivided to accommodate mobile homes on 55 lots. Before the annexation is approved, Mayor Joe Keck and the council asked Don Etnier, who represents the Whiteners, to negotiate with city planners over land for a "pocket park" for the neighborhood.

•  The council approved a 3.2-beer retail liquor license for the new Safeway. Officials from Safeway said they expect to open the $10 million grocery store on March 7, "weather permitting." In addition to the normal grocery departments, the store will include a bank and a Starbucks coffee kiosk.

The council also approved a conditional-use permit for Safeway to construct a car wash, and add three fuel pumps to Safeway’s planned fuel station and convenience store.

An architect from Safeway said the company’s policy has been to provide gas for a penny below the lowest price on the street, with an additional 5-cent-per-gallon discount for purchase with a Safeway card.

"I see a great gas war coming. I just cannot wait," commented council member Jim Herrick.

Safeway has hired 121 employees, 30 of which are full-time, who are currently being trained.

•  Residents of Cortez have until Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to apply for a position open on the city council. The four residents who are currently in the running are William Yocom, Harold Foster, Ken Banks, and Dennis Robson.

The council will interview the candidates and possibly appoint a new member at the council meeting on the Feb. 27. The new council member will come up for re-election in April 2002.

•  A conditional-use permit was granted to the Cortez Journal to build and operate a publishing business at 123 Roger Smith Ave. The Journal plans to break ground this spring, and hopes to re-locate from Main Street by December.

The only objection from the audience came from Russ Machen, whose house is located near the proposed building. He asked whether the Journal had any plans to relocate the prairie dogs — several dozen — that currently live on the property. Machen was worried that once the new building was constructed the prairie dogs would "relocate" to his property.

Suzy Meyer, general manager of the Journal, assured Machen that although the Journal did not have any current plans to relocate the prairie dogs, she would try to find a solution to the problem.