Who will manage the operations of the Sundre and Olds/Didsbury airports in the future is currently under debate.Draft guiding principles for the two Mountain View County-owned airports were reviewed by councillors and administration during last Wednesday's policies and priorities meeting.It was proposed that the airport committee, under council, is to be responsible for airport operations and the county's Operational Services department is to be responsible for giving administrative support to the committee and coordinate any work the committee has directed to be done under a council approved budget.The management structure, similar to the county's Agricultural Service Board, was disputed Wednesday by operational service director Michael MacLean.He called the airports huge assets that should be managed similar to the county building and said management responsibility should lie with administration.Several councillors agreed with him.“I agree the ag service model is not the model,” said reeve Bruce Beattie.He said changes do have to be made though to make the airports pay their way.A committee, said MacLean, may not have the same objectives administration would to make sure the airports were sustainable.“To compare it to an ag service board I don't think is appropriate,” MacLean said.The draft guiding principals also proposed reviewing the structure of the airport committee, and having the airport committee, with support from the Legislative Services department, propose a new committee bylaw as soon as possible.It further proposed holding off on consideration of hiring of an airport manager until current operational issues — revenues, expenses, lots sales at the Olds/Didsbury airport and subdivision at Sundre airport — have been addressed.The policies and priorities committee recommended the draft guiding principles be reviewed and that administration make a recommendation for operation of airports within the county.
