Williamson County Regional Airport Tenants Unhappy With Competition

December 6, 2003

Airport Tenants Unhappy With Competition 
The Southern Illinoisan, IL

WILLIAMSON COUNTY -- Citing what they perceive to be a general lack of 
appreciation from the Williamson County Regional Airport Authority Board, two 
established tenants of the airport are contemplating their departure. 

April will mark 25 years that Hertz car rentals has been in business at the 
airport. But the long-time tenant isn't longing for its customary spot just 
inside the main entrance to the airport. 

Owner Bertha Brewer said Wednesday that the Williamson County location is not 
cost-effective, thus expendable. 

"We will not likely renew our contract when it expires in two years," Brewer 
said. "My full intention -- barring something unforseen -- is to close the 
facility. We will not reopen elsewhere. I'll just keep the other two Hertz 
facilities in Louisiana." 

Brewer, who took over ownership of the business three years ago from Ed 
Narozniak, said the airport authority's recent addition of a second car rental 
agency, Crossroads, makes her decision that much easier. 

"There just isn't enough business to support two car rental agencies," Brewer 
said. "We've never made a lot of money there. Hertz doesn't want a business 
there anymore." 

Brewer said she doesn't blame the airport authority for allowing Crossroads to 
locate at the airport. "They're nice people and all, but the pie can only be 
split so many ways," she said. Hertz employs five full-time workers at the 
airport, plus part-timers. 

Airport manager Doug Kimmel said he had not yet been informed by Brewer of her 
intention to close the Hertz business upon completion of the contract. 

"First I've heard of it," he said. "The decision to renew or not is, of course, 
theirs. Maybe within the next two years, another airline (in addition to 
Corporate Airlines) will be providing service here and their business will pick 
up considerably and they can reconsider the idea of leaving." 

Concerning Crossroads, Kimmel said it doesn't have the national reservation 
system Hertz has. Therefore, he thought both car rentals could do adequate 
business. 

"We had the space to accommodate Crossroads and they entered into a lease 
agreement similar to that of Hertz," Kimmel said. 

Margaret Bernhardt, manager of Hertz's airport location, has been with the 
agency since it opened in 1979 under the direction of Gene Webb. 

"There's nothing we could do about Crossroads coming here. Free enterprise, the 
board told us," Bernhardt said. "But with only four flights per day coming in 
from St. Louis, there's not nearly enough business to support two car rental 
agencies. 

"It's been said that competition helps you, but when you have a limited amount 
of business to begin with, it doesn't help." 

Bernhardt said Hertz has 25 new Fords and Mazdas available for use by clients, 
but business has dropped since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. She said new 
construction in the Marion area eventually could enhance corporate business at 
the airport. 

Sergio Mendez-Rodriguez, owner of Sergio's Mexican restaurant at the airport, 
believes new businesses at the airport have received preferential treatment 
from the airport board over established tenants. 

"I just don't think I've been treated as well as I would like," 
Mendez-Rodriguez said. "I've had some problems with a sign I bought out by 
Route 13. A spot I thought was promised to me by the board was given to 
Maggie's. Plus, my sign is blocked to traffic coming from the west. 

"And the Coffee Connection, which just opened inside the airport, sells frozen 
Mexican food. I don't think that's fair either." 

Kimmel said the sign in question is not obscured to traffic from the west. "I 
made sure that it wasn't," he said. "There is adequate visibility from both the 
east and the west. Sergio's sign is staggered back a little from the highway. 
Maggie's sign had to be closer to the highway because of where the property is 
located. Sergio's sign may not be next to the highway, but is closer to the 
entrance." 

Kimmel said Mendez-Rodgriguez should not be concerned about competition. People 
who want to eat Mexican cuisine for lunch or supper will go to his restaurant 
and those who want a burger will go to Maggie's, he said. 

"Everyone is out here under equal terms," Kimmel said. 

As for Mendez-Rodriguez's complaints about the Coffee Connection inside the 
terminal, Kimmel said the restaurant is not open during the early morning hours 
when many travelers are passing through. 

"They mainly sell coffee and doughnuts and are open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. I 
understand the competition concerns both Sergio and Hertz have, but we can't 
keep people from developing out here if they meet our standards for operation 
and accept our lease agreement." 

Despite his complaints, Mendez-Rodriguez said he plans to renew his contract 
with the airport for six months and would like to stay there for years to come, 
but hasn't made any long-term plans. 

Kimmel said he welcomes Sergio's contract renewal. 

If economically feasible, Mendez-Rodriguez said he would like to build a patio 
to accommodate his customers. 

Kimmel said the airport authority, although somewhat limited in funds, could 
possibly help finance Sergio's expansion plans, but that the cost would be 
incorporated into his lease agreement. 

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