Yellow Lab Cab operations suspended at airport
By KEVIN WISER
Express Staff Writer
Yellow
Lab owner/operator Geoffrey Schultz listens to alleged airport violations by Friedman
Memorial Airport Authority. (Express photo by David N. Seelig)
Yellow Lab Cab, a local taxi company, has been suspended from operating at
the Friedman Memorial Airport stemming from violations of the Hailey airfields
regulations governing ground transportation services.
Yellow Labs suspension was effective immediately and will continue
until June 6, at which time the company may apply for reinstatement.
During a special meeting on the issue by the Friedman Memorial Airport
Authority on Thursday, airport manager Rick Baird cited a number of airport regulation
violations made by Yellow Lab over the past year. They included handling luggage without
the consent of the owner or authorization of the responsible airline; soliciting business
inside the airport terminal; and engaging in profane shouting matches with employees of
other cab companies.
The authoritys decision, following a two-hour special meeting, came
on a 4-0 vote with one member absent. Baird, the airport manager, is not a board member.
Following an incident reported at the airport in January involving a
dispute between Horizon Airlines and Schultz over the delivery of baggage, Baird wrote a
letter to Yellow Lab owner and operator Geoffrey Schultz. In that letter, Baird told
Schultz that cab companies are authorized to handle baggage only when the action is
approved by either a passenger or air carrier.
"Any other situation during which you are in contact with baggage at
the airport may be interpreted as unauthorized tampering with personal property,"
Baird wrote.
Schultz contended he has "always followed the direction of any
airport employee and the airport management."
He said his handling of luggage was an attempt to be of service and help
the airline.
Baird also said that in entering the terminal and attempting to solicit
business, Schultz was in violation of an airport regulation that states that cab drivers
shall remain in the immediate vicinity of their vehicle in the ground transportation
service parking area.
Baird said that shouting matches between Schultz and other cab drivers
over the positioning of cabs in the taxi parking area was in violation of another
regulation section stating that "ground transportation service employees shall
conduct themselves in a courteous, business-like fashion."
Schultz said jockeying for position at the ground transportation service
parking area with other cab companies was the crux of his problems at the airport.
In handing down the decision to suspend Yellow Labs permit, board
member Chris Warton said the airport authority hasnt heard many complaints over the
last year that didnt involve Yellow Lab.
"There was never such a problem at the airport until Yellow Lab came
along," Warton said.
Board member Susan McBryant described Schultz actions as "a
continuing pattern of frustration and violation."
Board member Martha Burke said it was important to the panel that Yellow
Lab provide the best service possible at the airport and conduct business in a
professional manner.
As for confrontations with other cab companies, Burke said Schultz
"frustration is understandable on the playground but not in the business arena."
"Were very serious about the service provided and what goes on
at the airport," Burke said.
Schultz was told that any further violations of airport regulations would
result in immediate revocation for the remainder of year.
The city of Ketchum is also investigating complaints filed against Yellow
Lab and has scheduled an April 20 meeting to determine if there is cause to revoke Yellow
Labs permit to operate in Ketchum.
Ketchum Police Chief Cal Nevland said his office has received complaints
that Yellow Lab is in violation of its franchise agreement with the city of Ketchum. The
complaints, Nevland said, allege that Yellow Lab is not consistently running three cabs as
required by the franchise agreement and that the cab companys fares are
inconsistent.
In an interview, Schultz called those allegations "preposterous"
and said they appeared to be part of a "witch hunt."