Airport management may be privatized

A proposal before Douglas County commissioners on Monday would essentially privatize Minden-Tahoe Airport's management.

The county is proposing a $400,000 a year contract with ABS Aviation Management Services to operate the airport for the next two years.

Should commissioners approve the agreement, the 4.5 county positions at the airport would be filled by ABS, according to Assistant County Manager Steve Mokrohisky.

"We've worked with ABS over the last eight months and they've done an outstanding job," Mokrohisky said. "Their quality of service is high and there is a projected cost savings of $50,000 a year in the airport fund."

Including the airport manager and the secretary position, there are 2.5 maintenance positions at the airport.

Mokrohisky said county officials have talked with the employees and told them they were welcome to apply for the jobs under ABS.

The company is required under the contract to fill 5.5 positions.

Other options for the county workers would be limited.

"They have the opportunity to apply for other county positions, but those are fairly limited," he said. "The majority have approached the potential contractor and said they're interested in working. Those who fit the mold will continue to work."

The contract has a 90-day termination without cause clause, and if the contractor doesn't fill a position within three months, those savings revert to the county.

Mokrohisky said all airport assets will continue to be owned by the county and that service and supply accounts will also continue to be managed by the county.

"We look at two primary areas if we are going to privatize," Mokrohisky said. "Can we provide same or better service and can we achieve a cost savings? Both of those things will be achieved through this contractor."

He said that approval of the management contract won't alter operations at the airport.

"Nothing will change at the airport, and what kind of airport we're going to be," he said. "We'll continue to focus on being a sport aviation airport, but now we're achieving some significant savings in the budget and will have some really good service."

The county received letters of endorsement about ABS from airports in Florida, Minnesota and Georgia.