By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Airport needs new city employees.
"We had two employees that were working at the airport," said Interim City Manager Gary Meagher. "One left on October 22nd, the other left this last weekend. Within about a three week period, we lost both of the employees. After the first employee gave notice, Parks and Facilities Director Justin Combs and I did start talking with Airport Manager Pieter Miller, regarding how we would work forward in this process. We had the job announcement out before the first employee left. We've received two applications so far. One, we just got in yesterday, so those are being forwarded to Pieter for his review. I don't know that either of these have airport experience, but they do meet certain criteria, so those will be forwarded on."
Chairman of the Hutchinson Airport Advisory Board, Jerome Kahn, spoke to the council about the need for help for Miller, and its impact on operations.
"It leaves Pieter in a real bad position," Kahn said. "He has nobody there. Whoever we bring in is going to take six months to get up to speed in our airport operations and all the duties that are required there. This is going to mean airport closures for extended periods after a snowfall. Maintenance is going to be hard to get done and that's just ongoing maintenance at the airfield."
This is after Miller has been working hard to figure out a long term business plan and also to get a grant application working to try to replace the air traffic control tower. Kahn said all of that will have to slow down considerably until new employees are hired and trained.