Newberry Ready to Hire Airport Consultant: Commissioner Says Internal Operations of Airport Not What Should Be Studied
By Amy Burroughs, The Paducah Sun, Ky.
Jan. 27–The McCracken County Fiscal Court plans to discuss obtaining an evaluation of Barkley Regional Airport operations, including a recommendation on a proposed tax, at its meeting Monday.
Judge-Executive Van Newberry said he talked with Chris Neihoff, a Lone Oak resident and pilot, about hiring him to assess the airport’s management, personnel, revenue and expenses. Neihoff also would make suggestions on financial issues such as subsidies and taxing.
Commissioner Zana Renfro said she recommended in November that the county obtain an analysis of the airport’s economic development impact, not internal operations.
“My suggestion was to get someone in here that knows how to do an economic impact study on the benefits of having an airport and the results of not supporting the airport,” she said. “That’s actually what I wanted done.”
The city and county have been subsidizing the airport since last April and agreed to increase their monthly support to $38,000 through June. County commissioners have been reluctant to create a tax to support the airport, while proponents have argued the tax is needed to preserve the airport’s role in economic development.
When Renfro suggested the study, she said that while many people urged passage of the tax to protect an economic development draw, she wanted a neutral analysis.
“I wanted hard facts, I wanted detailed information,” Renfro said. “I think we all know what (an economic development study) will say, but having it verified is a whole different ballgame.”
Renfro gave Newberry three contacts in November for economic development analysis, including The Boyd Group, a Colorado firm specializing in such studies. Renfro said that to her knowledge, none of the three have been contacted.
Renfro also told Newberry she would personally find funding for the study so the county would not have to pay for it.
Newberry said he expected Neihoff would charge $5,000 to $7,000, but commissioners would have to discuss how they would pay for that.”The only number we’ve been quoted is $100 per hour,” he said.
Newberry said he believed economic development analysis was beyond Neihoff’s expertise and “probably more of a question for the (Greater Paducah Economic Development Council).”
According to Newberry, Neihoff has a degree in aviation management, worked at Barkley Regional Airport for Midwest Aviation for several years and is familiar with airports throughout the U.S.
Renfro said she respects Neihoff’s expertise, but finding a long-term solution to the airport’s financial difficulties is more “multifaceted.”
“I just think there’s more levels to all this than hiring Chris right now,” Renfro said, adding that the economic development aspect is “a critical part of this.”
“That’s the part where the community needs to realize what happens if this airport is lost,” she said. “To me, it’s an investment in infrastructure we can’t treat so lightly.”
Amy Burroughs can be contacted at 575-8652.
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