Carson City Air Authority approves terminal inspection

Carson City’s Airport Authority Wednesday approved proceeding with a hazardous materials inspection to see if the airport terminal must close or be worked on.

Authority members, meanwhile, ignored a call for most of them to resign over “hobby hangars.” The man seeking the resignations has charged items get stored in hangars without airplanes, but no action has been taken.

Regarding the terminal, members voted unanimously to have an inspection done for mold and asbestos by Environmental Inspection & Control Services of Reno for $745, the lowest of three bids. Airport Manager Time Rowe said there’s black mold in a roof area and part of the terminal is closed off at present. He speculated a new roof would cost $50,000, but said he just wanted to know the terminal’s status.

“At least we’ll know where we stand,” he said. He said if closure is necessary, the airport might rent space from a Fixed Base Operator on the grounds or get a trailer. But first, he said, inspection results are needed.

It was Jerry Vaccaro of Carson City who called for resignations of all but new authority members, citing the lack of an agenda item on hobby hangars. He said the authority and airport are in violation of Federal Aviation Administration regulations and yet has accepted millions for runway and other work from the FAA. He said there are at least a dozen hobby hangars on the airport.

Vacarro also said he has taken his oft-repeated complaint to the city manager and district attorney.

“I won’t be resigning,” replied Don Peterson, vice chairman and presiding officer for the evening. Peterson said Vacarro has used public comment for his charge at authority meetings but could seek an agenda item and invited him to do so for a future meeting. Vacarro said it should have been done by a member. He said he’ll rely on the city manager and district attorney.

In other action, the authority voted 4-1 for a three-year extension of a contract with Cinderlite Trucking for removal of excess rock at the airport. In more than three years, the airport already has realized $160,000.