Two new Airport Authority members pledge more cooperation with city

The two newest members of the Carson City Airport Authority pledge to build a calmer relationship with the Carson City Board of Supervisors.

Supervisors on Thursday appointed airport veteran Bob Thomas and developer Gene Sheldon to the seven-member airport board.

Thomas wrote the legislation that created the Airport Authority in 1989 and he served as its first chairman. Thomas sought to return to the authority to thaw the reported frosty relations between it and supervisors that in recent weeks led authority members to talk about seeking autonomy from City Hall.

"I just want to add some balance to the board," said Thomas, who built the first hangars at the airport and now owns 35 T-hangars there. "The board is a young, zealous board. I don't think they're taking everything into consideration or taking public opinion into consideration."

Thomas was appointed to the seat designated for fixed-base operator, and Sheldon fills the seat for an industrial party near the airport. They were appointed to four-year terms, replacing Ron Kitchen and Will Fletcher.

Sheldon and his brothers built an 18,000-square-foot industrial building on six acres at the northwest corner of Goni and Hot Springs roads, beyond the west end of the airport runway.

"I think the perspective of the current board is more or less unanimous, and I think some diversity is needed on the board," Sheldon said. "My main concern is that citizens and the Board of Supervisors are fully aware of the direction the airport is going. I want to put a lot of weight on citizen input on public sessions coming up."

Supervisors interviewed three candidates for the fixed-base positions, selecting Thomas over Neil Weaver, owner of Weaver Aircraft at the airport, and Tom Nance, an engineer who, with his partner, has invested $1.5 million in the Carson City Airport to build 14 executive-style hangars.

Sheldon won the industrial seat over Steve Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Co. in Reno with five aircraft at the Carson City Airport.

Sheldon and Thomas "focus on the relationship of the airport board with the entire community," Mayor Ray Masayko said. "The relationship can be improved. They both indicated that high among their priorities."

Supervisor Jon Plank made the motion to appoint both Thomas and Sheldon, zeroing in on their thoughts about the relationship between the airport and the community.

"Two applicants said what I wanted to hear, that this airport belongs to the community," Plank said.

Plank and Masayko were referring to efforts earlier this month by the authority to seek autonomy for the airport or at least have some input in how new members would be selected.

The authority voiced concerns that supervisors didn't have the same expertise or interest in the airport as the authority members do. The airport board two weeks ago forwarded a list of ideal qualities for an authority member, including that they be pilots, have a vested interest in the airport, have daily interaction at the airport and preferably have planning, construction, engineering or business experience.

Airport Authority Chairman David Corrao watched the supervisors interview applicants.

"I thought the interviews were conducted very well," Corrao said. "The questions asked were meaningful."