Plea to rehire airport chief appears grounded
Brian Walker; Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years AGO
COEUR d'ALENE — The Airport Advisory Board's plea to county commissioners to rehire Greg Delavan as the Coeur d'Alene Airport's manager never took off Monday.
Four advisory board members asked commissioners to rehire Delavan for the second time in two years after the previous commission board voted 2-1 to fire the leader just days before two new commissioners took office earlier this month.
However, commissioners at Monday's meeting gave no indication they're interested in bringing Delavan back and indicated they're moving ahead to find a replacement instead.
"The advertisement for the position is close to being ready to be sent out possibly this week," said Commission Chairman Marc Eberlein, who, along with former Commissioner Dan Green, voted three weeks ago to fire Delavan.
Advisory board members Jim Thorpe, John Adams, Mark Vehr and Nolan Wiley told commissioners Monday the advisory board recently voted to recommend bringing Delavan back because they believe he was fired over a personal vendetta, as no reason was given. They also believe Delavan has the knowledge and skills to boost economic development at the airport and work with the Federal Aviation Administration.
"Managing this airport is very important if we're going to attract (business) here," Wiley said. "I think it's important to have a manager who understands what we need."
The advisory board members said multiple influential people in the area have expressed concerns over Delavan's firing.
Thorpe told commissioners he doesn't believe losing Delavan is in the best interest of the county or taxpayers, and the break in continuity will cause setbacks for airport projects.
Thorpe said when he helped search for a replacement two years ago when Delavan was fired before being rehired by a new board, the quality of applicants was dismal.
The advisory board members submitted the commissioners a letter of support for Delavan from pilot Mike Kincaid. Kincaid wrote to say Delavan, who had been the airport's manager for 22 years, has been instrumental in working with investors of a fixed base operator, or airplane gas station, for the airport.
"With many airports across the country to choose from to invest in building a major FBO, my concern is they will walk away from our airport with Greg's termination," Kincaid wrote.
The commissioners told the advisory board members they understand the airport is a critical economic engine for the region and the importance of having a leader who can guide the facility into the future.
Eberlein added he believes the former Army Reserve Center at the airport should have been rented to a tenant by the county several months ago, and the acquisition of property around the airport needs to be completed.
He said aside from a hangar project last year, the airport has seemed "stagnant" in recent years.
Since Delavan planned to retire in two or three years and the airport has ongoing projects, the advisory board members floated the idea of keeping Delavan on in the interim to train a new manager.
"That would be the best of both worlds," Thorpe said.
While there was no movement to bring Delavan back, Thorpe said he still hopes the commissioners will bring him back to train a new manager, or that enough pushback from the community will turn the tide.
"I wouldn't put the nail in the coffin yet," Thorpe said.
Delavan said he'd consider coming back if he was rehired again. He said there are several projects he'd like to finish before retiring.
Thorpe said he's sympathetic toward new commissioners Chris Fillios and Bob Bingham for being handed a hot potato stemming from a firing decision they didn't make.
“I believe it was very disrespectful of the last board for putting this new board in the position they've put them in,” Thorpe said. “They’re scratching their heads on what this is about, too.”
ARTICLES BY BRIAN WALKER; STAFF WRITER
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