The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission authorized the chair to hire an attorney to provide legal representation for the panel. The action was taken in a brief Tuesday meeting attended by airport commission critics Jeff Czeczok and Brainerd City Council member Bob Olson.
Voting yes on the motion to hire an attorney were Chair Andy Larson, Beth Pfingsten and Brainerd City Council member Kevin Goedker. Members Brad Davis and Crow Wing County Commissioner Rachel Reabe Nystrom were absent. Member Rick Adair, who is serving as interim airport manager recused himself from voting.
Czeczok asked for clarification on Adair’s vote and said that he should have stated his reason for abstaining from the vote. Olson did not address the commission.
After the meeting Larson said the commission wanted to hire an attorney so that it would have ongoing, consistent legal advice.
MIKE O’ROURKE may be reached at 855-5860 or mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com.
Comments (11)
Add commentMust have been limited space
I considered the question asked by Kevin Goedker very newsworthy but, apparently Mike O'Rourke didn't.
Perhaps the print version of today's Dispatch was already packed full of other more important news items, thereby not allowing for a question like Goedker's to garner ink.
Or, perhaps the cub reporter was simply in a rush yesterday afternoon to meet the print deadline.
O'Rourke apparently believes Bob Olson's and my attendance and Olson not addressing the Commission is more relevant to the story and, also, more important to his newspaper's readers.
On it's surface, Goedker's question, the only question asked by a Commissioner, seemed to be a valid one, one that even perhaps is the essential root of why the Commission conducted their special meeting in order to hire an attorney.
Next Tuesday's City Council meeting will shine some light on Mr. Goedker's question if anybody's interested...or, maybe Mike O'Rourke should be contacted to discover exactly the nature of Goedker's question.
Oh and by the way, if anybody's wondering, this will cost the taxpayer's more money.
The Airport Commission should be complemented for conducting their special meeting yesterday. This is a fine example of how the public's business should be conducted...instead of making phone calls to one another or leaving expenditure decision making up to the sole discretion of the hired staff or up to a single member of the Commission...as they did back in May.
I guess nowadays, even a critic can educate some people from time to time.
Jeff Czeczok
The Bemidji Airport Mgr Already Has New Air Service Carrier
According to a Lakeland TV PBS story last night ,Bemidji being very concerned about their city , new airport remodel with jetway , has already signed up Skywest Aviation to service their community .Is anybody talking to Sky West ?
Qualifications
O.K Vincent. Your attack on the Airport Commission has to do with procedures of the board and qualifications of the exited manager, explain to the readers how the City of Brainerd Park & Rec Department can have a Director of Park & Rec without a degree in Park & Rec Administration? While you're at it, explain how this individual rose above others who applied that have the qualifications for this position? Maybe it might be time to investigate all hires, past and present, for qualifications related to positions held if this is about protecting the taxpayers dollar.
Stay with it Jeff. Watch dogs
Stay with it Jeff. Watch dogs and attack dogs serve their purpose!
jjwilsen, please explain
jjwilsen,
As I understand the current condition of the Parks Department, they haven't any problems and morale is higher than ever.
Please, explain what the current problems are at the Park Dept.
Do this for the readers you're so concerned about...
Jeff
Double Standards
What the readers want to know is why would the qualifications of the past airport manager come into play when the qualifications of the Park & Rec Director do not? This is not about morale or problems within the department. It is about taxpayer dollars supporting qualified employees within the city and county, isn't it?
Your argument is about Policy and Procedures and Alderman Olson's argument is about his suspicion of "Good Old Boy" activity within the airport commission. My argument is that if neither had the qualifications for the position and were chosen over others who have the qualifications, wouldn't this appear as the "Good Old Boy" network in both instances and should be looked in the same light? Wouldn't this lead to suspicion of past and present hiring practices of the county and city also?
Actually Vincent, I could care less being that my tax dollars go to a neighboring county and city. This could be of the best interests of the taxpayers of Crow Wing County and the City of Brainerd to have someone who is willing to ask the tough questions and demand answers such as yourself and Alderman Olson. Someone who isn't afraid of exposing skeletons in the closet as you could say.
jj
jj, here you go
I'm not in agreement with you about past hirings regarding their qualifications.
I'm concerned about the unusual gift of a severance package that, in my opinion, doesn't serve the public's best interest.
I'm also concerned about how the AC proceeded with a newly created job...picked out of thin air and a severance package that goes above and beyond anything else before it.
I'm not aware the former Airport Manager was selected above others with better qualifications.
Can you fill me in on the details?
If you can show me how a degree would make the Parks Department a better run operation than it currently is, please do so.
As far as qualifications of a Park Director, the previous one proves the degree meant nothing.
Also, just so you're aware, I've expressed these same concerns to the AC in person...I don't simply comment here.
The O'Rourkes of the world and Brainerd are not of a mind to print most everything I say to any elected body.
There's other media I have available instead of the Weekly Reader.
Jeff
There's other media I have available instead
Yeah, jj .... you should ask Jeff if you can check out his Braille editions of Playboy.
Jeff
Please, do you do anything other then harrass the airport. Let the newspaper do the reporting. Go harass another place for a while.
jeff
What other media? I must have missed those. I would like to see some history on the things you are refering to, also.
anniejo
keep yopur sweaty paws offen those Braille editions or they'll violate you probation.