Excel-Jet Plans Still in Holding Pattern at Guthrie

GUTHRIE. Okla. - If Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport Board members were hoping Tuesday for an update on Excel-Jet Ltd.'s plan to relocate to Guthrie, they were surely disappointed.

Guthrie interim City Manager Melody Kellogg told the group she couldn't talk about Excel-Jet because the company sent information saying the city is not complying with a confidentiality agreement.

"We're waiting on information in writing as to what that means," Kellogg said.

She said Edmond attorney Randel Shadid sent the Sport-Jet manufacturer a letter asking for an explanation, and she did not have an indication of when a response would come.

Guthrie city officials agreed to loan Excel-Jet $375,000 in December 2005 with the understanding the company would bring manufacturing of its Sport-Jet, and jobs to Guthrie by summer 2006.

The company's experimental aircraft crashed in June, however, delaying the move indefinitely.

Excel-Jet did make its first loan payment of $20,885.68 in December. The company has made no monthly loan payments since, City Clerk-Treasurer Wanda Calvert said.

Kellogg told the airport board that the city's note on the loan is almost current with the bank except for about $2,700, which was a discrepancy in amortization.

Board Chairman Bill Horn asked about the land reserved for Excel-Jet, whether the airport could do anything else with it. Kellogg advised the board to wait.

Excel-Jet President Bob Bornhofen did not return messages left Wednesday seeking comment.

In other news, the airport board discussed possibly placing airport signs inside Edmond city limits.

The signs were requested by Mayor Saundra Naifeh.

Board member Richard Geib suggested the board could put signs similar to the large aluminum sign at the airport's entrance in several key locations in Edmond.

Geib said he has spoken with Edmond's sign shop and had found aluminum that could be used in the sign's manufacture.

Horn said Edmond would be asked to pay for the signs.

The board also voted unanimously to change language on the ground lease agreements at the airport.

Language added specifies hangars should be completed within 120 days on leased land, giving additional time for adverse weather or other emergency conditions.

This stops people from leasing land and never building on it, Airport Manager Ron Groves said.

Leases in default of the agreement will revert back to the airport, and the land will be made available to the next person on the waiting list, Groves said.

There are 22 parties waiting for space, he said.

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