In a special meeting last week, the Montrose County commissioners extended a prior temporary revocation of the county’s agreement with the general aviation company, adding another 60 days to the original 30-day ban set in mid-November.
The county’s conflict with JetAway began in late 2005 when the county awarded the bid for fixed-base operator, or FBO, services to Black Canyon Jet Center. JetAway has been filing lawsuits ever since and the battle has cost the county close to $750,000 in legal fees.
Commissioner Bill Patterson said the current board is trying to take care of the continuing problems with JetAway before the new board takes over Jan. 13.
“The judge has told us to quit bending over backwards and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said.
Since JetAway has repeatedly ignored court restraining orders and the conditions of the first revocation, Patterson said he doesn’t think the company will comply now.
“We’ve got to end this and the best way we can end it for the new commissioners is to be tougher,” he said. “We’re looking at what we can do basically, since JetAway thumbed their nose at the courts and county.”
Patterson was defeated for re-election and Commissioner Allan Belt did not run again this year after serving one four-year term.
Commissioner Gary Ellis, who is halfway through a two-term, said decisions regarding JetAway would best be left to the incoming board of commissioners, but much depends on the company’s actions.
“On the one hand they appear to want the FBO (status) very badly, but it seems like they’re doing everything to keep that from happening,” he said.
Safety at the airport is primary, Ellis said, and parking aircraft on taxiways, one of JetAway’s “alleged violations,” is a dangerous practice.
“So far, in the 30-day period we saw alleged violations occur and they haven’t submitted an access permit,” he said. “Until that is accomplished we really can’t move forward with this. We are looking for compliance with airport safety rules and regulations and the FAA in order for them to have access.”
The county stated in a news release that JetAway had violated airport regulations by allowing unauthorized vehicles on taxiways and “other continued violations” that led to the continuation of the ban.
JetAway now has the option to schedule a hearing with the county to present its own evidence, provided it submits a signed access permit agreement and “tendered payment of required fees.”
Those required fees will come to about $50,000 per year, Patterson said, considerably more than the $250 per year JetAway pays now.
“We have to make sure everybody is on an equal playing field, which we tried to do all along with JetAway, but they refused,” he said. “They want a permit that would grant them more favorable status.”
Post a Comment