Airport Authority wants Weaver back - for now

By Dave Frank

Appeal Staff Writer

The Carson City Airport Authority agreed Wednesday to try to get its former airport manager who quit Aug. 14 to come back - at least for now.

The authority said the best person to fill in as temporary manager for the Carson City Airport while there is a search for a new manager would be Yvon Weaver, who had been at the job for 15 years.

Weaver quit after a phone call with authority member and city supervisor Richard Staub who talked to her about the possibility of making the manager a full-time salaried position and opening it to interviews. Weaver and Staub disagree on the tone of the conversation.

The manager had been a part-time contract employee for the airport authority, which has owned and managed the airport since 1989. It has no commercial flight service.

Neil Weaver, Yvon Weaver's husband, is a member of the authority but was not at the meeting Wednesday. He owns Weaver Aircraft.

The six members of the authority there praised the former manager, with Staub saying she did an "exemplary job."

"I will miss Yvon Weaver," he said. "I had a very good relationship with her."

Member Don Peterson praised Weaver, while also criticizing how Staub and Steve Lewis, chairman of the authority, approached Weaver.

He said that Lewis should have told Staub to talk to her in person, rather than calling her on a phone. He said the airport will "suffer" because of what happened.

"Professionalism and good grace is to recognize we tripped up here," he said.

All members did agree they should at least consider hiring a full-time manager to deal with construction projects, an expanding airport and millions of dollars in federal grants the authority gets.

Lewis was the biggest supporter of the idea.

"Effectively, we'll finally bring the Carson City Airport in the 20th Century," he said.

The authority needs to be aware of the major costs of a full-time manager, however, Staub said. It needs to make sure it can afford salary, benefits, merit pay, retirement costs and support staff not just now, but for years to come.

Seven people from the public spoke at the meeting, most praising Weaver whether they supported a full-time manager or not.

Jerry Vaccaro was most critical of the authority, saying it handled the situation "very very poorly."

• Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.