Airport board recommends Harry Pollard for maintenance job after CDL debate

The Park County Airport Board on Sept. 22 recommended hiring Harry Pollard for the airport maintenance position after reviewing five applicants and references. Board members said Pollard was the sole applicant who already met the job's stated minimum of a valid Class B commercial driver's license and had favorable professional references.

Board discussion centered on whether the CDL requirement should be enforced at the time of application. Board members cited a county attorney opinion that county policy requires a CDL to operate county equipment on public-access areas of airport property. One member said the requirement stems from liability concerns tied to public accessibility, while others warned that insisting on a CDL at application could exclude otherwise capable candidates who could obtain the license if the county subsidized training.

After debate, a board member moved to recommend Pollard for hire; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. The board instructed staff to notify Pollard and to begin at the bottom of the posted pay scale ($22.42/hour listed in the job advertisement) unless a different salary is negotiated. Staff said they will confirm whether Pollard remains available and will coordinate any required onboarding steps.

The board noted the county attorney's involvement on questions of hiring and equipment operation and deferred to counsel where legal interpretation of job requirements is relevant. The board also discussed internal processes for posting and wage negotiation, and asked staff to keep the commission informed of any further clarifications from the county attorney about CDL or equipment-operation policy.

The board recorded the hiring recommendation as an advisory action pending final confirmation and personnel procedures by county administration.