County airport names Silverman as new manager

Mineral County commissioners on Friday approved the recommendation of Jim Silverman for the Mineral County Airport manager and chairman of the board of directors.

Gary Bullock, board member, reported that after the interview process was complete that the other directors unanimously agreed on Silverman. Bullock made mention that for the first time in a while, the airport board of directors is at capacity with five members. Besides Bullock and Silverman, Gordon Hendrick, Ron White and Don Felsted round out the board, and with new leadership, meetings dates will change.

After the formality, Commissioner Duane Simons asked Bullock how the sale of aviation fuel had been through the summer and fire season. 

“We found out that our price was a little higher than other airports, so we dropped it down a little, but still making a fine margin on it, and plan on selling it down and then getting a small load to go through the winter,” he said. 

Hendrick said they have a training plan about to start. 

“Everyone on the board will be trained to know how to access fuel, check the fuel, purge the fuel, change prices and anything that has to do with maintenance on the airport itself. We will all know how to do it rather than one person getting stuck with doing everything.”

Bullock mentioned that a third county-owned hanger is to be built next year and a resurfacing and a crack sealing project for the runway is about one year out, which is all grant funded.