Springfield Business Journal_2020-09-28

Airport improvement Council heard a proposal that would issue $12 million in bonds to pay for a new aircraft main- tenance hangar at Springfield-Branson National Airport for American Airlines planes. Springfield Aviation Director Brian Weiler said at the meet- ing the airline is the largest of the airport’s four carriers, with 41% of the local market share. Weiler said a current on-site hangar is large enough to house three of the airline’s smaller 40- to 50-seat regional jets. However, it can’t fit the larger 76-seat jets, such as the Embraer 175, he said. The airport and city plan to finance, build and own a larger maintenance hangar that can hold more planes. It will be leased to American on a long-term agreement with rent to go toward supporting bond payments issued for the project, he said. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “The project will allow us to retain about 75 existing quality aircraft maintenance jobs in our community that we have today,” he said. Chuck Allen, managing director of govern- mental affairs with American Airlines, said no new jobs are initially planned for the hangar, not- ing American, and the airline industry as a whole, is facing severe challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic.   “As airlines plan for a future after COVID, there will be greater reliance on these next generation regional jets our facility is designed to maintain,” Weiler said.  Council will vote on the bill, which requires a budget amendment, at a special meeting Sept. 29. Other action items City Manager Jason Gage’s budget request to add a new staff position for director of diversity and inclusion was unanimously approved. The position is responsible for development and im- plementation of the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and initiatives. Full-year salary and benefits of $120,000 with $30,000 for full- year non-personnel-related office and operating expenses are projected, according to city docu- ments. However, the first-year cost is projected at roughly $75,000 as the position is planned to be filled mid-fiscal year.  “This is an important step,” said Councilperson Matthew Simpson. “This is not the only step we need to take. We need to continue working on steps to make Springfield as welcoming and as in- clusive and as inviting a community as possible.” Council unanimously passed City Utilities’ an- nual budget request. The budget estimates $599 million in receipts in fiscal 2021, with around half generated from electric bills. Budget expendi- tures are estimated at $591 million for fiscal 2021, which begins Oct. 1.  SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 49 SEPT. 28-OCT. 4, 2020 FROM THE COVER Visit ccozarks.org 417.862.3586 NAP Credits are benefits given to donors on qualifying gifts. You have a limited time to put your dollars to work feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless. For every dollar donated, 50 cents can be applied to your state income tax liability! EXPIRING DECEMBER 31, 2021! Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) Call us to find out how you can make a tax-wise gift today! Health leaders recommend mask mandate extension by Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net Health leaders on Sept. 22 made the case for an extension of the local mask mandate during a Springfield City Council luncheon. Springfield-Greene County Health Department Director Clay Goddard, CoxHealth President and CEO Steve Edwards, Mercy Hospital Springfield President and Chief Operating Officer Brent Hubbard and Greene County Medical Society President Dr. Kayce Morton all spoke in support of the extension. Council members, too, were in favor of the extension, which would keep the masking ordinance in place through mid-January. Mayor Ken McClure said council likely would consider the 90-day ex- tension at its next meeting on Oct. 5. Approved by council in July, the man- date currently is slated to expire in mid-October. “We have done the right thing,” McClure said. “We need to continue on where we are.” CoxHealth’s Edwards likened Springfield to an island, in which surround- ing cities including Ozark and Nixa have not enacted face mask orders. He said the mask mandate must continue in order to protect Springfield residents, regardless of whether some feel it’s inconvenient to wear face coverings. “Obligation always comes ahead of privilege,” he said. The Health Department’s COVID-19 dashboard shows more than 6,200 confirmed coronavirus cases and 67 deaths as of the morning of Sept. 24. The Branson Board of Aldermen earlier this month approved an exten- sion to its face mask order. C I T Y B E AT from the Sept. 21 City Council Meeting • Purchase of 240 body-worn cameras for the Springfield Police Department is under consideration. • Council hears a bond issue proposal to build a new aircraft maintenance hangar at Springfield-Branson National Airport. • City is given approval to add a new staff position for director of diversity and inclusion. • Council approves City Utilities budget for fiscal 2021. Full City Council coverage is at SBJ.net/citybeat