With the dawning of a new airport, the City is also bringing on a new airport manager. Rich Stehmeier will fill a vacancy created by the departure of former Airport Manager, Rick Crosman who elected to pursue a private consulting business.
Rich has been managing the Logan-Cache Airport for the past six years. "With our new airport in operation we are now positioned to pursue new opportunities," observed Larry Bulloch, Public Works Director. "Rich has the background and ability to take us to the next level." Rich comes to the City with a degree in business and marketing. That, coupled with his experience in aviation management, makes him a perfect fit to provide the leadership the City is looking for to achieve its economic development goals at the airport. "We get a lot of inquiries from the public about expansion of scheduled passenger air service at the new airport," said Gary Esplin, City Manager. "Rich will be a great asset in pursuing those efforts as well as attracting aviation-related businesses to the airport," he added.
The City has already engaged in a number of negotiations with businesses that the old airport simply could not accommodate due to site constraints. The new 1203 acre site opens up many opportunities, such as charter tours, manufacturing, storage and other aviation support services. "Our investment in the new airport has positioned us to service up to 737-sized aircraft. We've already had several aircraft that size fly in for events like the recent deployment of the 222nd troops to Afghanistan," said Mayor McArthur.
Rich's breadth of experience will be an asset in the City's pursuit of its goals for the airport. He spent six years in the private sector managing a construction business and a total of 16 years as a pilot. He served on the Provo, Utah Airport Board prior to taking the position with Logan-Cache as their first full time Airport Manager. His most notable achievement at Logan-Cache was to bring the airport from a general aviation status to a fully certified airport for commercial passenger service.
Public relations will be Rich's first order of business at the new airport. "At Logan-Cache Airport, I spent a year meeting with every airport user on the airfield," Rich noted, "I put a lot of effort into building positive working relationships."
Rich will take a forward-thinking approach to managing the new airport. "I want to spend some time with the City Manager, Mayor and City Council to make sure that I understand their vision for the future at the new airport. The new airport has great potential and I am excited about being a part of the airport development program."
|
|
 "I hope you know we had a hard time." These are the words I used, quoting from a speech I had heard, at the opening of the ground breaking for the new replacement airport a couple of years ago. Well, the opening day of this great new facility is finally here after nearly twenty years of hard work and a lot of effort by numerous individuals. At times it seemed that it may never happen or that there must be some unseen force working against its success. Today and for the foreseeable future it will be a force for good for both the flying public and the general aviation enthusiast. The realities of today and the possibilities for the future hold great promise as we continue to expand. This site has been used for many recreational purposes over the last several decades, some of which have been a shooting range, a drag strip, a remote model flying field, a motocross track, and a practice flying field. It was built before our existing airport and served to train many airmen including my father, Eldon McArthur, who just celebrated his 90th birthday. My generation used it for hunting rabbits and drag racing and I even landed a plane or two on the old runway. It brings many fond memories to mind as I am sure it will for many generations to come. It is the hope and vision of many past, present and, I am sure, future mayors and city councils that it will bring large and expanded economic benefits to St. George and the surrounding area. As you will see in this edition of "Inside St. George" it is five times as large as our present airport. The runway is twice as wide and a third longer with the potential to be 11,000 feet in length which is as long as any in the country. Everything about the replacement airport is a big upgrade to what we now have. Upon approaching the building from the front, notice the stained glass portal above the entrance depicting a canyon and the similarities in the architecture of the building that ties it to the Town Square. Notice the curving walls of the main hall and the dark to light bands of paneling ascending upward to the ceiling that remind one of the many slot canyons that make our area so popular. I know that everyone will be very impressed with the new terminal building, its artwork and furnishings. Here people will be able to send off loved ones and welcome them back in an atmosphere that is both beautiful and accommodating. Businesses and those wishing to show off the area and impress potential clients or entice companies to expand or relocate will have areas in the building to accommodate them. Ticketing, baggage claim, passenger secure areas, as well as public access areas are well placed with greeting and visiting space. The building is built to expand in all the areas that will need to be enlarged in the future as needed. I especially like the second floor that is for the public to view the entire airfield from end of runway to end of runway. Being a grandfather, I know others like me will love this area where we can show our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren airplanes going and coming. Early on, the second floor was going to be office space for those who work on site, but as the City Council and I looked at the small area that had been set aside for the public, we all made the decision to open it up so it could accommodate a large group. It has been decided to name this area after one who has worked tirelessly to make the airport happen. You will have to come out to see who this special someone is. I would be remiss not to mention Mayor Karl Brooks and all the past City Council members since that time who have been involved intimately in the process. In fact, Mayor James Grey Larkin and those involved at that time had visions of the airport becoming an economic engine sometime in the future. Well, that time is now and we are blessed to have a dedicated staff and team under the direction of our City Manager Gary Esplin to carry out the wishes of all the Mayors and City Council members who have had the privilege of being involved. I am a religious man as many of you know and I feel we have been blessed immensely in this corner of the state and area of this country. We stand on the shoulders of giants who have paved the way for us in this day and age through vision and hard work when just eking out a living seemed an impossibility. I for one stand in awe at their fortitude, dedication, and reverence for this land we call DIXIE. A place I am happy to call HOME.
Daniel D. McArthur
City of St. George Mayor
|
|
February 22, 2012
