Friday, October 6, 2006

Airport board rejects taxi plea for fee break


By PAT MURPHY
Express Staff Writer

Members of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority were unmoved Tuesday night by pleas from attorney and former Ketchum Mayor Ed Simon to cut in half the 10 percent fee levied against Budget-Rent-a-Car.

The four members (Chair Martha Burke was absent) instead let stand the new airport rate schedule that applies a 10 percent fee on the income of all rental car firms, including three that successfully bid for space in the airport terminal, as well as off-airport operators that pick up customers at the airport.

Simon, representing the Budget franchisee, K&T Inc., claimed the 10 percent fee—instead of the lesser 5 percent he proposed—would jeopardize Budget's ability to remain in business.

He also asked the board to waive a requirement that Budget use a van to pick up customers in the airport parking lot, insisting the cost of a van would be an added burden. Simon said Budget employees could use rental cars to pick up customers and drive them to the off-airport rental office.

To that, authority Vice Chair Susan McBryant retorted such an arrangement would be "creepy" for customers.

"I wouldn't get into a car with someone I don't know on a rainy night in a town I don't know," she said.

Airport Manager Rick Baird struck the theme of objections to Simon's proposals.

"It's a matter of fairness," he said.

On-site rental agencies are not only paying the 10 percent fee, he said, but also hefty rental rates for space, about $29 per square foot.

Without taking a vote, the board tacitly rejected Simons' appeals.

In other action:

· Although the board went into executive session, it later did not have any decision to announce on possible eminent domain action to remove or trim cottonwood trees on the Flying Hat Ranch off the south end of the runway. The trees are considered obstructions for instrument landings. The Eccles family thus far has declined airport requests to remove or trim them.

●· Some 1,200 feet at the south end of Friedman's runway will be closed for 10 hours each day on Nov. 7, 8 and 9 while it is grooved to provide an anti-skid surface. Aircraft will land farther down the runway, and on takeoff will be airborne before reaching the closed area.

●· The airport tentatively is scheduled to be closed April 24 through May 23 to rebuild the entire runway, most of which is not more than 20 years old and is showing signs of moisture erosion. Baird has notified airlines and said airline travelers should now make plans appropriately.




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