It was great that KRTV has taken notice of the circus going on at the Great Falls International Airport, with the ringleaders of this circus being the Great Falls International Airport Authority Board.

KRTV Reporter Alex Grubb did a fine job in detailing the great work that Airport Director Cynthia Schultz has done for the airport, not to mention for Great Falls, Cascade County, and Montana.

In the story, KRTV reports that the Airport Board wants to get rid of the person who is responsible for increasing the assets of the airport “from $18.5 million to $113 million.”  The “hangar occupancy jumped from 28% to 100%.”  Discretionary grants have increased from $235,000 to $49 million.  Yes, $49 million.

That’s someone I would want to keep around.  

Send in the clowns…

It is beyond belief to me and several others in the community that this Airport Board wants to get rid of such an outstanding performer, plus the Airport Authority Board is spending $35,000 to search for a new director.  Sadly, this seems to be the method of operation in Great Falls – spend taxpayer money on super silly things.

But more importantly, the Airport Authority Board is harming the reputation of the community – which will not be good for businesses that are looking for a place to move.  Plus, the businesses currently using the airport may think twice before renewing their contracts.  I know I would.  One must wonder what the Chamber and the Economic Development folks are thinking about the anti-business move by the hand-picked Airport Board.

The elected officials who have jurisdiction over this Airport Board (Cascade County Commissioners and Great Falls City Commissioners) should immediately step in and put a halt to this circus.  They should give Schultz a new Airport Board, a new long-term contract, and pray that she stays, because they will not find anyone who wants to work for the current board.

They will certainly never find anyone who could do the job any better than Schultz.  It’s a terrible way to treat one of your own, Great Falls.  Double shame on each member of the Airport Board.