Perhaps Bob Thomas is a bit confused. He states that creating the airport authority removes all responsibility for running the airport from Carson City. He does not state, however, that every decision made by the Airport Authority must be approved by the City Council. So, while the Airport Authority has the responsibility, they have no authority to make any final decisions as to leases, airport operations, and airport regulations, etc.
One of the few things that the Airport Authority can do is to appoint an airport manager. They can also disappoint that manager (pun intended). I for one am fed up with hearing insinuations by people like Mr. Thomas that the former airport manager was fired or forced out of her position. This is simply not true and borders on slander in my opinion.
"Over the past 19 years, the airport has steadily grown in self sufficiency, actually becoming self sufficient almost from the beginning of its independence, thanks to volunteerism". This "volunteerism" Mr. Thomas speaks of is the Airport Authority! The Airport Authority he wants disbanded! I guess Mr. Thomas' motto is 'if it works, break it'!
Of course Mr. Thomas has a plan, and I must say it's ingenious. Get rid of the Airport Authority and appoint a five member airport advisory committee to report to the City Supervisors. Am I missing something or does he just think the Airport Authority should have two fewer members and be renamed?
Mr. Thomas also states that he is an "airport operator". I wonder which airport he is operating. What is an "airport operator" anyway?
I think the Airport Authority is imperfect like any group of its kind must be. It's just human nature. That group has, however, made great strides in improving the airport, which will be contributing more and more tax dollars to Carson City. As these "big money interests" invest in our city, just maybe they will bring more jobs to our city and further improve our way of life.
All this furor over the Airport Authority's recommendation to the City Supervisors that the airport should have a full time manager (the only state capital without a full time airport manager, by the way). Ridiculous!
p.s. I recall aviation fuel costing around $1.65 in 1980 when I was becoming a pilot, so I'm not sure how he got it for $.35 in 1988.
Dirk Zahtilla of Carson City is a contractor, pilot and aircraft owner.