Nov. 02--Garden City officials have received indication from federal transportation authorities that regional jet service in southwest Kansas may be just around the corner.
A "show of cause" order has been issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation "tentatively selecting American Eagle Airlines to provide essential air service (EAS) at Garden City" for a nearly $2.92 million annual subsidy. EAS is a federal subsidy program that makes commercial air service possible in remote or rural communities across the nation.
City staff told city commissioners who met Tuesday that they're confident the federal order issued Monday signals that the DOT soon will give its final stamp of approval to Garden City's efforts to acquire American Eagle jet service to and from Dallas at the Garden City Regional Airport.
"Typically, when we get our order from the DOT, it's a standing order," Rachelle Powell, the city's aviation director, told the commission. "They've tentatively selected American Eagle. However, there is a 10-day time period where anyone can show cause as to why the DOT shouldn't award the service. ... Nov. 9 is the last day anyone can show cause."
City Manager Matt Allen also addressed commissioners on the matter.
"The short version is that we'll know a lot more in nine days," Allen said.
The same DOT order tentatively selects Great Lakes Airlines to provide federally-subsidized air service between Denver and four other western Kansas communities -- Dodge City, Great Bend, Hays and Liberal -- at a federal subsidy cost of nearly $7.49 million.
Great Lakes Airlines currently provides commercial air service through the EAS program between Denver and Garden City, in addition to four other western Kansas communities.
The Wyoming-based air carrier has provided EAS service to all five western Kansas communities for several years, and typically has been the airline of choice for Garden City.
However, city officials decided in early June that an offer from American Eagle Airlines to provide 14 round-trip flights per week on a 44-seater jet to and from Dallas could help wean Garden City off its federal subsidy and potentially boost passenger traffic.
Powell, who has said EAS federal funding will expire "when" and not "if" in the future, also has said that American Eagle Airlines has had similar success weaning other communities, like Manhattan, off its federal subsidy.
Since American Eagle's descent, the airport in Manhattan now boasts commercial flights to both Dallas and Chicago without the EAS subsidy, according to Powell.
The city aviation director also said that if a standing order is issued sometime soon approving the American Eagle Airlines proposal, the airline will likely begin serving Garden City as soon as April.
"There won't be any gaps in service of flights," Powell told commissioners, explaining that Great Lakes would end one day and American Eagle would start the next day. "It'll be a turnkey service."
In other business, the city commission either discussed or took the following action:
--Unanimously approved a contract with Wellness Innovations and Nursing Services at a cost of $307,385 to provide clinic services and a holistic wellness program for city employees and their dependents.
City commissioners also unanimously chose an office site at 302 N. Fleming St., Suite 2, to house the new health clinic. City staff plan to negotiate a three-year lease with the owners of the building, Keller-Leopold Insurance, Inc.
--Unanimously accepted a $35,000 donation from Premier Alfalfa, Hugoton, to construct a practice building at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course, covering a portion of the existing driving range. The structure will be about 40 feet by 20 feet and will house practice bays facing the range and is planned to be heated.
--Unanimously appointed Sandy Rodgers to the Golf Advisory Board.
--Commissioners held a 10-minute closed session for matters relating to the acquisition of real property. They took no action following the closed session.
City Commissioner Dan Fankhauser was not present Tuesday.
The city meets again at 1 p.m. Nov. 15 at the City Administrative Center, 301 N. Eighth St.
Copyright 2011 - The Garden City Telegram, Kan.
