July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Board to look for new manager
Portland Aviation Board
The man who has managed Jay County's only airport the past 20 years may be getting some competition for that job.
The Portland Aviation Board has voted to advertise the position of manager of Portland Municipal Airport, beginning Friday.
Current manager Dave Miller said Wednesday that he plans to apply for the job, but would not serve as the airport's fixed base operator if he is not the manager.
"The FBO is not paid," he said.
Board members Glynn Barber, Bob Sours and Jim Runkle voted Wednesday afternoon during a meeting that had a larger than usual crowd. The audience included Portland City Clerk-Treasurer Randy Geesaman.
Geesaman said after the meeting that he had no idea the board planned to advertise for a new manager prior to the meeting, and that he had not been given a job description for the airport manager position. He is in charge of getting legal notices to The Commercial Review for publication. Board member Mark Franklin did not attend the meeting.
Geesaman prepared a legal notice this morning that states applications will be accepted until March 5. Those applying must submit a resume, a cover letter and a completed application. The applications, along with a complete job description, are available in Geesaman's office at Portland City Hall.
Also Wednesday, board members voted to present a fixed base operator contract to Miller. The contract is expected to be presented to him at the next board meeting (March 17). The details of the FBO contract were not discussed during the meeting.
Miller currently serves as both the FBO and manager of the airport, and operates his business, Miller Aviation, there.
Miller said Wednesday that if he is not serving as manager or FBO, he will still operate his business at Portland Municipal Airport out of one of the hangars.
However, he would no longer have to pump fuel, plow snow, pay to heat the terminal building or make sure the airport is staffed seven days a week, he said.
Also during Wednesday's board meeting, former Miller Aviation employee Brian Albers said he had some questions about how the airport's finances have been handled, and suggested city official request of the airport fund.
After the meeting was adjourned, Miller asked if he could address the board. The meeting was reconvened and Miller raised some issues about the work done on the hangars (see related story). When he asked if he could address some other issues, he was told to wait until the next aviation board meeting.
After the meeting adjourned again, Miller told several spectators he had prepared a monthly written report to present to board members.
In other business Wednesday, board members voted to have the appraisal values (offers) for the land needed for the runway and taxiway extension projects sent to the property owners.
Forcum and Forbes is representing the city in the land acquisition process. City attorney Bill Hinkle bowed out from representing the city in the matter because of a conflict of interest. Board president Barber said that the property owners will have 30 days to respond to the offers. If there is no response, legal action will be initiated he said.
The city seeks to purchase 45.91 acres from Charles "Chuck" Shreeve and 9.10 acres from Justin Schafer. Shreeve's land most recently was appraised at $321,000, and Schafer's at $86,000. The appraisals were done about two years ago. The city cannot offer more than the appraisal amounts.
The property owners did not respond to previous offers made to the property owners in June of 2007.
Board members have previously discussed the possibility of imposing eminent domain. This means that the city could take the property owners to court in an attempt to acquire the land.
Also Wednesday, board members:
•Heard Barber report that he would like to review the city's hangar leasing policies and the lease amounts at the next board meeting.
•Voted to hire ETS, Muncie, to clean up an oil leak in one of the hangars at the airport.
Officials with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management recently inspected the hangar and ordered to city to remove contaminated stone and soil after a 55-galon drum of motor oil apparently leaked. ETS will be paid up to $4,100 for the work.
ERS, Fort Wayne, submitted an hourly rate to do the work, but not a quote, Barber said.
•Voted to secure liability insurance for the fuel pumps and the fuel being dispensed at the airport.[[In-content Ad]]
The Portland Aviation Board has voted to advertise the position of manager of Portland Municipal Airport, beginning Friday.
Current manager Dave Miller said Wednesday that he plans to apply for the job, but would not serve as the airport's fixed base operator if he is not the manager.
"The FBO is not paid," he said.
Board members Glynn Barber, Bob Sours and Jim Runkle voted Wednesday afternoon during a meeting that had a larger than usual crowd. The audience included Portland City Clerk-Treasurer Randy Geesaman.
Geesaman said after the meeting that he had no idea the board planned to advertise for a new manager prior to the meeting, and that he had not been given a job description for the airport manager position. He is in charge of getting legal notices to The Commercial Review for publication. Board member Mark Franklin did not attend the meeting.
Geesaman prepared a legal notice this morning that states applications will be accepted until March 5. Those applying must submit a resume, a cover letter and a completed application. The applications, along with a complete job description, are available in Geesaman's office at Portland City Hall.
Also Wednesday, board members voted to present a fixed base operator contract to Miller. The contract is expected to be presented to him at the next board meeting (March 17). The details of the FBO contract were not discussed during the meeting.
Miller currently serves as both the FBO and manager of the airport, and operates his business, Miller Aviation, there.
Miller said Wednesday that if he is not serving as manager or FBO, he will still operate his business at Portland Municipal Airport out of one of the hangars.
However, he would no longer have to pump fuel, plow snow, pay to heat the terminal building or make sure the airport is staffed seven days a week, he said.
Also during Wednesday's board meeting, former Miller Aviation employee Brian Albers said he had some questions about how the airport's finances have been handled, and suggested city official request of the airport fund.
After the meeting was adjourned, Miller asked if he could address the board. The meeting was reconvened and Miller raised some issues about the work done on the hangars (see related story). When he asked if he could address some other issues, he was told to wait until the next aviation board meeting.
After the meeting adjourned again, Miller told several spectators he had prepared a monthly written report to present to board members.
In other business Wednesday, board members voted to have the appraisal values (offers) for the land needed for the runway and taxiway extension projects sent to the property owners.
Forcum and Forbes is representing the city in the land acquisition process. City attorney Bill Hinkle bowed out from representing the city in the matter because of a conflict of interest. Board president Barber said that the property owners will have 30 days to respond to the offers. If there is no response, legal action will be initiated he said.
The city seeks to purchase 45.91 acres from Charles "Chuck" Shreeve and 9.10 acres from Justin Schafer. Shreeve's land most recently was appraised at $321,000, and Schafer's at $86,000. The appraisals were done about two years ago. The city cannot offer more than the appraisal amounts.
The property owners did not respond to previous offers made to the property owners in June of 2007.
Board members have previously discussed the possibility of imposing eminent domain. This means that the city could take the property owners to court in an attempt to acquire the land.
Also Wednesday, board members:
•Heard Barber report that he would like to review the city's hangar leasing policies and the lease amounts at the next board meeting.
•Voted to hire ETS, Muncie, to clean up an oil leak in one of the hangars at the airport.
Officials with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management recently inspected the hangar and ordered to city to remove contaminated stone and soil after a 55-galon drum of motor oil apparently leaked. ETS will be paid up to $4,100 for the work.
ERS, Fort Wayne, submitted an hourly rate to do the work, but not a quote, Barber said.
•Voted to secure liability insurance for the fuel pumps and the fuel being dispensed at the airport.[[In-content Ad]]
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