City to continue FBO services

Anna LaBay

McCOOK Neb. – Airport operations amid an ongoing bankruptcy were in the spotlight at Monday night’s meeting of the McCook City Council.

City Manager Nate Schneider provided an update on operations at the local airport, emphasizing the proactive measures taken by city staff. Schneider opened the discussion by acknowledging the hard work of Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff and staff, who played a crucial role in organizing the airport’s response.

“We’re getting close to the point where we’re ready to start fueling again,” said Schneider, outlining the City’s efforts over the past few weeks to ensure continued airport operations. Before the bankruptcy was filed on Nov. 15, Schneider and his team began contacting other aviation contacts to create contingency plans.

Understanding the importance of uninterrupted fueling services for McCook, Schneider detailed the outreach to former Red Willow Aviation employees, inviting them to consider continuing their roles as independent contractors for the city.

With the bankruptcy filed as a Chapter 7, Schneider explained that Red Willow Aviation’s assets, including equipment and facilities, were now under the control of a bankruptcy trustee. Following the filing, the city’s next steps involved directly contacting the trustee to express its concerns and intentions regarding future airport operations.

City staff began working on a lease agreement to allow the city to operate from the airport’s buildings and utilize the necessary equipment owned by the fixed base operator (FBO). Schneider noted that the trustee was receptive to their plans but required the City to obtain insurance and indemnification to protect the trustee’s interests.

The formation of independent contractor agreements for the former employees is also underway. Schneider expressed confidence in their ability to deliver fueling services efficiently, noting their experience and familiarity with airport operations. The city was collaborating closely with insurance representatives to finalize details on coverage, including property and casualty liability and workers’ compensation for the independent contractors. Both Schneider and Potthoff commented on the unusual situation that allowed a non-airside project – namely, the fueling station – to move ahead in priority over airside capital improvement needs. The term “airside” refers to the areas of an airport used for loading and unloading, takeoffs and landings.

Potthoff praised the collaboration with the FAA and Nebraska Department of Transportation, acknowledging their flexibility in fast-tracking this project despite the typical requirements prioritizing airside developments.

Potthoff remarked, “The fueling station has been on our CIP (Capital Improvement Program) data sheet for several years,” stressing the necessity of first addressing the airport’s airside needs to secure funding for revenue-generating projects. He also expressed appreciation for the agency’s willingness to work with McCook during a challenging time.

Schneider expressed optimism for the future of the airport’s fueling operations, highlighting the team’s commitment to maintaining essential services while navigating the complexities of the bankruptcy situation. As they prepare for a self-service fueling station, further discussions will occur in the upcoming Airport Advisory Commission meeting.

After the discussion, the Council unanimously voted to ratify a lease agreement between the City of McCook and the Chapter seven bankruptcy trustee for Red Willow Aviation. The agreement will allow the City to provide essential fueling services at the airport using equipment and facilities previously operated by Red Willow Aviation.

The Council also approved authorization to use the City Council’s contingency fund to maintain necessary operations at the airport during Red Willow Aviation’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

Sports complex update

In other business, Schneider also gave an update on the progress of the Sports Complex project and reviewed a recommendation from the Sports Complex Committee to appoint Mammoth Sports Construction as the design firm for the project. The recommendation follows a thorough selection process, including interviews and qualifications scoring from five firms. Regarding the recommendation, Schneider said, “Mammoth is a full-stop company. They could do the whole thing. This was just for the design side, but they specialize in sports complexes.” He added that they have been involved in over 140 Sports Complex Facilities and that the references had only good things to say. The Council approved the recommendation.

Mayor Linda Taylor administered the oath of office to Jerry Calvin and Darcy Rambali, who were reelected in the Nov. 5 general election. The Council unanimously voted to keep Taylor in place as Mayor and Calvin as Vice President.