April 24--The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission hired interim director Kyle Wanner as its new director.
The commission voted unanimously to hire Wanner during Wednesday's commission meeting.
Wanner, a Mandan native, has worked for the Aeronautics Commission for three years doing airport inspections, helping with improvement projects, making grant recommendations and working on aviation issues. He also is a pilot with bachelor degrees in business management and aeronautical science from the University of North Dakota.
"The whole state is experiencing fantastic requirements on aviation," North Dakota Aeronautics Commission Chairman Jay B. Lindquist said.
Airports across the state need infrastructure like runways, taxiways and parking.
"He (Wanner) has proven he can take over and go with it and do a good job," Lindquist said of Wanner's stepping into the interim director role.
Lindquist added that Wanner's ability to adapt into the director position leaves him confident Wanner will make a good full time director.
Wanner said it's his goal to insure North Dakota's aviation infrastructure challenges are met.
"We need strong leadership at the state level to make sure projects happen," he said.
Lindquist said the commission needs a director knowledgeable in aviation who can manage people and knows the needs of the state.
"That's the man I think we have," he said.
During the commission meeting, other commission staffing issues were discussed, including the need for more staff. The commission has three full-time employees, including Wanner.
The commission unanimously voted to allow Wanner to hire two project managers, one for each side of the state, to take over the duties Wanner held as a planner.
Lindquist said that will allow Wanner to delegate rather than doing the work himself.
"This guy has been doing it all," he said.
Wanner advocated to make the two new positions project managers rather than planners. He said that would allow more opportunity for advancement, a higher salary to help with the higher cost of living in the state and would attract more experienced candidates.
Wanner told the commissioners it would help create an environment to encourage employees to stay with the commission.
"With everything going on we need consistency in this office," he said, adding it would lead to better service for the public.
Wanner also requested the commission ask the Legislature for permission to up the number of full-time employees it is authorized to have from six people to seven people.
Commission Secretary Cindy Schreiber-Beck said she supported hiring a full-time employee to help with aviation education. Additional administrative support staff also was mentioned.
"We need to look at the future of aviation in North Dakota," Schreiber-Beck said. "We're not out there sparking interest ... We're falling behind."
Schreiber-Beck said someone with an educational background to set up a long-term educational programming system would be ideal.
Commissioner Maurice Cook pointed out education was named a new function of the commission during the last legislative session.
"I think aviation education needs to be higher priority," Wanner said.
Copyright 2014 - The Bismarck Tribune, N.D.
