The Mariposa County Airport has a new operator following the board of supervisors action on June 1. The board approved a management and lease agreement with KMPI Airport and Renta Car, Inc. for the next 10 years.

KMPI is operated by Rick Roesch of Mercy Ambulance and Jesse Figueroa, who is a partner with Roesch in the Greeley Hill Market. Both men will have the overall responsibility for the operation of the airport through their managers on site. Their’s was among six proposals for management of the struggling airport that the County received.

The agreement outlines that KMPI will operate the airport for the next 10 years, providing an airport manager and being responsible for billing and collecting rental fees for hangars, tie-downs and other leased space. KMPI will keep the revenue derived from such leases. KMPI will also operate a rental car business at the airport.

KMPI will also maintain the aircraft fuel tank, making fuel available through a self-service system. The airport terminal will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, with the exception of seven major holidays throughout the year.

During the meeting, County Administrative Officer Rick Benson explained the history behind the development of the lease agreement. He highlighted the recommendation that the terminal close because of budget constraints and the establishment of a committee that ultimately helped shape the request for proposals that lead to this agreement. “There were a lot of opportunities at the airport to make things better,” Benson said. “This is a win-win situation for the terminal to remain open.”

Benson said the agreement with KMPI “serves our ultimate purpose to keep that terminal open and provide services to those who fly in to the airport.” Even though KMPI will be managing the facility, Benson said “It’s the County’s airport. If the County wants to make changes, it can.”

The owner of Turlock Air, which also submitted a proposal, came to the meeting to make a last minute pitch. He told the board his company could do all the same things that KMPI promised, but could compensate the County $100,000 a year, 10 times what KMPI proposed. “I’m not here to challenge,” he said. “It’s just what we’re willing to do.”

Turlock Air was the company that staff had recommended in the selection process. However, the public and the board seemed more comfortable with the smaller scale, home town approach proposed by KMPI.

Roesch’s Mercy Ambulance is one of Mariposa County’s largest employers and has been doing business in the county since 1993. Figueroa resurrected the Greeley Hill Market after its closure, adding goods, services and fuel to the remote store.

KMPI’s proposal stated that it will increase the volume at the airport, thereby increasing visitors and revenue for the county. “We will exceed the County’s hope as we will provide those services without a subsidy,” the proposal states.

Roesch acknowledged that he didn’t have any experience operating an airport, but remembered a time when he had 23 days to create an ambulance service in Mariposa County. “We got it done,” he told the board. The same thing happened at the Greeley Hill Market. “We will dedicate the same effort to the airport,” Roesch concluded.

Only Supervisor Brad Aborn seemed to bristle at approving KMPI’s agreement. “This contract is a drastic improvement, but there are still some inconsistencies. I would be uncomfortable moving ahead,” he said. Aborn then started a discussion that lasted an hour.

Bob McHugh, a long-time airport user and supporter, said again that Turlock Air’s proposal might be too good to be true. “I don’t know how anyone could afford to pay the County $100,000 a year and survive,” he told the board.

The board finally voted 4-0, with Supervisor Jim Allen recused, to approve KMPI’s agreement. Still Aborn was unsure, and he indicated after the vote that he thought he should have voted the other way.