"Peoria airport may outsource security jobs"

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Airport closer to replacing security
Safety officers may lose jobs after board approves agreement with police
By DAVE HANEY
The Peoria (IL) Journal Star


PEORIA - The Greater Peoria Regional Airport is one step closer to replacing
its own public safety department with Peoria County sheriff's deputies.

The Airport Authority on Wednesday unanimously approved an intergovernmental
agreement with the county after briefly discussing the change behind closed
doors.

The contract, a six-year agreement, essentially means the airport's public
safety department will be dissolved after more than 25 years, provided the
Peoria County Board approves the agreement. The change also means the
airport's public safety officers will lose their jobs.

Only five of the airport's usual 10 officers - who until recently have
doubled as policemen and firefighters - remain on the payroll, four of whom
are eligible and being offered early retirement. The other half left earlier
this year for other jobs, according to officers and airport officials.

Terms call for the Airport Authority to pay Peoria County $365,000 in the
first year, $382,000 the second year, $400,000 each in the third, fourth and
fifth years, and $416,000 the final year. 

Airport Director Ken Spirito said the first year will realize at least
$34,000 in savings, although that amount will likely decrease in subsequent
years as the contract price increases.

By comparison, the authority budgeted $626,000 for public safety this fiscal
year.

However, what is not factored in is the cost of three new "airfield
operations" jobs - $127,000 in salaries and benefits and more than $20,000
for training and supplies to get started - as well as a reduction in revenue
because the Air National Guard is taking over the firefighting
responsibilities at the airport.

Firefighting and rescue operations, previously a part of the officers'
duties, were given to the Air National Guard in exchange for lowering the
Guard's rent at the airport from $90,000 annually to $50,000 a year as well
as the airport absorbing some airfield maintenance costs.

Spirito said the new airfield operations department will inspect the
runways, airport property and fence lines - also now part of the officers'
duties - in addition to a host of other functions.

The changeover is expected to take place March 1, one day after the union
agreement with the airport's safety officers expires.

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