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Jan.
10, 2001
By Janelle Holden
journal staff writer
The Cortez Municipal Airport now has what is common to almost every other airport in the state — written minimum standards.
The Cortez City Council approved minimum standards for aeronautical services at the airport during its Tuesday night meeting.
“We did not have in force any kind of written regulation saying that John or Jane Doe must do thus and so to operate a business here, now we do,” said Russ Machen, the assistant airport manager, on Wednesday.
Minimum standards help the airport ensure that businesses providing like services will operate in the same manner, and have the same insurance coverage, hours of operation, certified personnel, facility requirements, and adequate equipment.
“It protects us from spurious operators coming in and undercutting and offering services at a reduced level. That way everybody provides the same level of service so that it’s equal competition,” explained
Machen.
The decision comes just a few weeks after the second fixed-base operator at the airport failed to meet the terms of its one-year lease.
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.
When the council approved a lease with Mesa Verde Aviation, the second FBO, last February, the city required the company to construct a new hangar, an office-pilot lounge, and fuel farm by the end of 2001.
Owner Tim Dietz told the council the company would invest $1.2 million in the venture, and under the contract, Mesa Verde Aviation paid $205 a month to lease ground for its main hanger.
Machen said the only things Dietz has done since then are put up a gate through the fence to access his lease-hold area, and construct a gravel parking lot.
He has not sold any services during the past year.
“A great deal of time and energy was expended by airport staff to accommodate the entry of Mesa Verde Aviation’s entry into the business climate at Cortez Airport. Had minimum standards been in place, MVA would have been required to provide proof of, and exposure to, its financial ability to carry out its agenda,” Machen wrote in a memo to the council.
Bill Moore, who owns Cortez Flying Service, has provided airline services at the Cortez airport for more than 30 years. But because the Cortez airport receives federal funding, the council had to provide a “level playing field” for any fixed-base operator who wished to provide services, even if there was no real need.
Machen also said the standards were needed because of an influx of ultralight-airplane operators who want to operate flight-training businesses.
In other business, the city council:
• Considered adding the Cortez Sanitation District’s customers to the city’s utility billing system. If the city and the district could agree on a price, city customers would only pay one bill for water, sewer, and trash. If a customer didn’t pay his or her bill, the city would then shut off the water service until the bill was paid.
“I really think it’s a nice thing to do for the public,” said City Manager Hal Shepherd during the council’s workshop.
Shepherd said he and city finance director Kathi Moss would bring back a draft proposal for the council’s consideration at the next meeting.
• Approved a contract for services with Barker, Rinker Seacat Architects for architectural work on the rec center.
Chris Burkett, the city parks and recreation director, said that under the current timeline, construction of the center should begin in July and end in July 2003.
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