GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. Construction and hiring standstills have the Airport Authority Board under fire by the City of Grand Junction.
Construction on what was intended to be an airport administration building halted roughly a year ago after a grant reversal.
Since then, the half-completed structure has been weathering the elements and racking up complaints from citizens.
The City of Grand Junction has offered their financial support to the board to help come up with the $3.2 million dollars needed to finish the building.
They're also looking to become involved with the airport director recruiting efforts by utilizing their human resource services.
“We need to gain back the public's approval and get back on the road of using our airport the way it should be used,” says city councilman, Sam Susuras.
Members from the airport authority board declined an on camera interview.
Airport Authority Board Chairman, Rick Wagner says that at this time the board is digesting the offer from the Grand Junction City Council.
Hiring efforts for a new airport manager are still in its early stages, and the next meeting for the Airport Manager Search Committee will be March 23rd at 9 A.M. at the Grand Junction Regional Airport.
Source: http://www.nbc11news.com
Airport park
vendor asks
for upgrades
The company that manages Grand Junction Regional Airport’s parking operations told the Airport Authority board Tuesday that if it wants to continue receiving more than 90 percent of the $1.5 million people pay to park each year, it should buy new equipment and extend its contract by 10 years.
Republic Parking System has managed the airport’s parking system since 1993. The contract between Republic and the airport authority has been extended four times. The current agreement expires March 16, 2016, said Robert V. Linehart, company vice president.
The agreement gives the airport 80.45 percent of parking lot revenue up to $500,000 and 91.5 percent of the revenue greater than $500,000, less a monthly expense offset of $1,250, Linehart said.
“Those are very lucrative terms for the airport,” he said.
Annual parking lot revenue has exceeded $1 million each year since 2010. Republic is projecting $1.5 million in 2015, Linehart said.
Meanwhile, “ticket spitters,” barrier gates and other equipment that controls access to airport lots is quickly wearing out and should be replaced, in part because the maker of the equipment no longer manufactures components needed to maintain the system, he said.
“The system is reaching the end of its useful life,” Linehart said. “The current system has experienced accelerated wear and tear due to some of the parking lot and terminal loop road renovations.”
High usage, extreme weather and dust have taken a toll on the aging equipment, which was originally installed in 2006.
Republic wants to buy and install the equipment for a total cost of $200,000. The new machinery will accommodate leading edge technology the current system cannot, like pay by phone and automatic vehicle identification systems, he said.
If allowed to buy and install the equipment itself, Republic will save the airport tens of thousands of dollars. The same system would cost the airport $240,000 if it tried to buy it on its own, Linehart said.
“In exchange for making the investment, Republic is asking the airport to extend our existing contract by 10 years and … reimburse Republic $20,000 per year plus 3 percent, which is the cost of capital. The price is inclusive of installation. It’s a turn-key job,” he said.
Total cost to the airport would be $23,175 per year over 10 years, Linehart said.
Board member Rick Langley wanted to know if the new system would make it possible for the airport to someday eliminate parking lot attendants and operate “cashier-free.”
“I don’t recommend you go without people,” Linehart said. “Your airport is too busy.”
The board took no action on Republic’s proposal Tuesday.
In other news, the board voted unanimously to re-appoint Ben Johnson as interim airport manager until a permanent manager is hired.
Source: http://www.gjsentinel.com
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