"Officials say Alaska out of line over airport report"

Sunday, February 9, 2003

Ketchikan officials say state out of line over airport report
The Associated Press


KETCHIKAN, Alaska -  The Ketchikan Gateway Borough has fired back at state
criticism of how its airport is run, citing undocumented claims,
unprofessional behavior and hidden agendas in an inspection report. 

Borough Manager Roy Eckert sent a letter Thursday to Bob Doll, the
Department of Transportation Southeast director, two months after Doll
outlined problems listed by a state inspector. Doll's original letter said
the inspector "revealed sufficient deficiencies to threaten continued
operation." 

Michael Binkie, a state airport safety and compliance officer, in November
outlined deficiencies he detected in maintenance, training, documentation,
staffing, organization and safety. 

Eckert said he was not apologizing for taking so long to respond. 

"I am not apologizing for the delay, due to the fact that the alleged
deficiencies in the Ketchikan airport operations were not well documented,
and I was not given any copies of Mr. Binkie's supposed supporting
documents, which has resulted in my having to take the time to do my own
investigation to see if there is any basis for Mr. Binkie's conclusions," he
said. 

He said he asked for Binkie's report within 10 days of Doll's letter but
only recently received the inspector's report to Doll. 

He said Binkie should have visit him during the inspection. 

"From what I have learned, it appears that Mr. Binkie was here not on a
routine inspection, but was here based on some complaints by disgruntled
employees that have regularly made similar complaints in the past,
apparently for personal agendas," he said. 

Eckert said he believes the state is trying to gain operation of the
airport. 

Eckert also suggested that the state has inappropriately inserted itself
into a local political issue _ the borough's mutual aid agreement with the
city of Ketchikan for fire protection at the airport. The city council
recently voted to terminate that agreement unless the borough provide funds
to train city firefighters in airport rescue and firefighting techniques. 

Doll said Friday his office provided copies of his letter and Binkie's memo
after the city filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the documents,
which are public records. He said he had no intention of making the
information public and "the public disclosure interfered with the process I
hoped would take place to resolve those issues." 

According to Ketchikan airport manager Dave Allen, a problem with the
airport's runway and taxiway markings had already been identified by the
Federal Aviation Administration and the FAA gave the borough until July 30
to remedy the situation. 

He said the airport has records of training and an FAA inspector reviewed
them during a recent inspection. 

Allen said he needed more information about other essential documents Binkie
said were not available before he could respond.


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