Conway’s new municipal airport, which will be open in 2014, will be managed by the city following an approval of a resolution by the council during its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday.
The council, down by two aldermen during the meeting, voted 6-0 to approve the resolution, which would allow the council to appoint a department head to run the day-to-day operations. Conway Mayor Tab Townsell said that this type of operation would be beneficial for the city because of the revenue that the city would be able to generate.
“When you think of such things as hangar space rental and land use and gasoline sales, we will be able to offset expenses that airport would have,” Townsell said. “With some smart work on our end, we could be able to get more fly-through refueling.”
Because the airport would not be open until 2014, the city would be able to put together an operational budget next year and create a line item in the 2014 budget.
The city now utilizes a Fixed Base Operator to operate and manage the current airport with little or no input from city officials.
Bill Hegeman, who is chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee, told the council that the best of the three options was to allow the city to manage the airport.
“This would give us the greatest control of all the factors relative to the operation of a new facility, provide the highest revenue stream, better control investments in the new facility and better project the positive image that is desired in a general aviation airport,” he said.
Comments (9)
Add commentLook out I see more round
Look out I see more round about's and parks coming. Just we need a round about in the airport
Everyone jokes about the
Everyone jokes about the roundabouts, however everyone seems to agree they were worth adding to major city streets since they help flow traffic better.
So much for the city treating its residents so poorly on every count.
My money is on....................
My money is on the fact that the pilots are not going to like roundabouts on the runway. You know we gotta have them.
Two things
One, the city council has done a bang-up job handling finances for the past decade, so what makes them think they'll be any better with an airport.
Two, if we stand to make more money by operating the airport if it is successful, does that also mean that we stand to lose more money if it is a failure?
My Thought Exactly
Reading This:
This would give us the greatest control of all the factors relative to the operation of a new facility, provide the highest revenue stream, better control investments in the new facility and better project the positive image that is desired in a general aviation airport
My read is this will give Conway citzens the greatest liability should this general aviation airport go over like a lead Zeppelin. I hope Acxiom and HP EXEC's enjoy their private little airport.
true - but...
Even if the current group has a somewhat less than stellar track record on fiscal management, at least we can vote them out. With the current setup, I don't even know who to blame for anything airport related.
Check
With this guy for anything air related
I am so surprised the Airport
I am so surprised the Airport Advisory Committee (stacked with so many liberals beholding to the Mayor and business from the city and donors to his campaign) recommended city manage the airport and the council would approve with just three insignificant questions.
Outside of mismanaging money, maleficence of tax dollars and low worker productivity, I can't think of a thing the government does better than private industry.
Just like parks they have yet to create a business plan, probably don't know how they are going to pay for it or provide necessary upkeep and maintenance.
This is
This is how it's done at real airports, using a city-employed manager.
In this case it's how you set the stage for growth.
I realize this being teh Internets we're supposed to fire spitballs at various people, but this is typical of a city in growth. Not doing it this way, not building a new more-approachable field with room for growth, and putting a manager in the oversight role, only stalls the inevitable.
I'm happy C'town's taking the time and putting forth the energy to do things right.
CowTown
I told you CowTown was getting better! Igor R says its gets the airport! Not sure there is room for an airport. Possibly designate Jersey as the main runway.
:)