"Elko, Nevada airport may take over baggage screening"

Sunday, December 5, 2004

Airport may take over baggage screening 
By MARIANNE KOBAK
The Elko (NV) Daily Free Press


ELKO - Elko Regional Airport may be the only airport in the nation to take
over its security from the federal government.

The airport applied to become a "qualified offeror" Monday, which would
allow the city to handle the security that is currently operated by the
Transportation Security Administration, said Elko Regional Airport Director
Cris Jensen. 

The city isn't unhappy with TSA but the program is a potential revenue
source for the airport, Jensen said.

"We're an enterprise fund and we have to stand on our own so we're always
looking for ways to generate funds," he said.

If the airport is accepted into the program, the federal government will
give the city the funds to run the security service and allow for a profit
margin, said Elko City Manager Curtis Calder. For example, if it costs $3
million to run security and the negotiated profit margin is 10 percent, the
city would earn $300,000 for its airport operation.

"There's a possibility for us to get a good chunk of revenue," Calder said.

Jensen said he has known about this program for about a year, so he said he
was surprised when the Federal Aviation Administration said Elko was the
only airport in the nation to apply for it. The first package is to opt out
of TSA handling the security and the second package to apply to become a
qualified offeror.

"It kind of makes me nervous," Jensen said. "I'm not sure if it's that the
process was so daunting so they're waiting for others to go through it or if
they just missed the deadline."

The deadline to become a qualified offeror was Friday. There are private
companies that have applied to become qualified offerors, Jensen said.

Despite being the only city to apply for the program, Elko will not be a
guinea pig for the project. The airport in Jackson Hole, Wyo., has already
gone through the experimental stage of the program, Jensen said. Jackson
Hole never had TSA security.

"Jackson Hole is the one we're modeling this after," Jensen said. "They told
us you're fools if you don't do this. ... If there is (a downside) I don't
know what it is. We went to Jackson Hole and visited with them to see if
there was any reason we shouldn't do it. George Larson, the director of the
Jackson Hole airport, said 'I think this is the smartest thing you can do.'"

"Art (Moses) spent a lot of time getting us prepared so maybe we were just
ready for it," Jensen said.

Moses is the airport's security manager and assistant director.

Moses said he examined Jackson Hole's security operation by looking at how
they ran it and what kind of personnel they needed.

"Cris and I have done a lot of research on the program," Moses said.
"There's a chance for us to have some financial influx. ... There are some
unknowns which have been clarified recently. It will increase the workload
here."

The workload increase will be in administering security. The program also
ensures that no federal employees lose their job. If the city takes over
security the local TSA employees will be offered the jobs but they do not
have to accept, Jensen said. The program also ensures the employees have the
same benefits and wages.

TSA will still handle the hiring and training process before turning the
employees over to the city.

If the airport is accepted into the program, the Elko City Council will have
the final say on participating. The issue will be on council's Dec. 14
agenda, Calder said.

"For us to have total control over security makes sense, we already supply
the police protection," Calder said. 

Attached Photo:

Skywest Airline passengers have their identification and tickets checked
before being screened by federal employees as mandated by federal law in the
wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

news1.jpg