Commissioners offer airport manager post to candidate and authorize interim search if needed

Delta County commissioners voted to offer the airport manager position to candidate Kylie Tandy and discussed hiring an interim manager through a placement firm to cover licensing and upcoming Federal Aviation Administration inspections.

The airport advisory board and hiring committee reported that three candidates were interviewed; the top-ranked candidate withdrew for personal reasons. Committee members said the second-ranked candidate was a strong choice with FAA inspection experience and some Part 139 familiarity, but her start date could depend on housing availability and other logistics.

Commissioners and airport advisory members expressed concern about multiple time-sensitive requirements: the county must have a licensed airport manager on staff within 90 days of the previous manager's departure, the administrator faces an April 17 licensing deadline, and the FAA inspection is scheduled in June. To mitigate those risks, board members authorized staff to contact ADK (a placement and executive-search firm) to secure an interim licensed manager if the chosen candidate cannot start quickly.

The board then voted to offer the position of airport manager to Kylie Tandy. Commissioners discussed using existing airport budget funds and a separate federal grant balance (cited in discussion as about $92,000 remaining) to cover interim placement costs if needed.

Board members said the interim manager, if placed, would help assemble documents and prepare for FAA inspections and would overlap with any permanent hire to provide continuity. The administrator and airport advisory chair were authorized to pursue placement and search options within available budget authority; the board did not require a separate formal vote to make those administrative arrangements.