Meeting improves relations between City, Transwest

“What we both did say is that the main thing for that airport, for their service and for the City of Prince Albert, is that the safety of their patrons and of people flying into that airport is safe and is never compromised.”

Toye addressed other concerns raised by Lawless, including one about the airport hours of operation being off by one hour. The City advertises the airport opens at 5 a.m., but Toye agreed that when staff has to clear snow, it takes at least an hour to do so.

He said that for a few days of the year, even though the City staff is at the airport at 5 a.m., the airport may not be in condition appropriate for planes to fly in.

But the meeting also gave him a chance to share some new developments that may improve runway and ramp clearing service. The City has purchased a new machine for snow clearing, and according to Toye, both parties agreed it will make a huge difference in how staff clears the runway. The new machine will arrive this year.

One item that was not discussed was the losses Transwest said it incurred as a result of inadequate snow clearing. Lawless had previously stated the airline lost an amount in the “six figures” due to three damaged plane wheels and lost flying time.

Toye said he thinks the parties will still have a conversation about this.

“At this time we haven’t talked about it in detail, but it’s something we need to have some talks about, because I’m not sure that we agree with what they said on Monday night [Feb. 23].”

This meeting came more than a week after Lawless initially raised concerns about service levels at the airport. At the Feb. 23 city council meeting, he told members of council that snow was not being cleared adequately from ramps and runways. He said this resulted in damage to three airplane wheels and lost flying time at the airport.

The following day, he sent a letter to Mayor Greg Dionne reiterating concerns, which he also forwarded to members of the local media.

Following these events, the two sides arranged the formal meeting, which Lawless said went as well as they could. He said he gave Toye more details about the specific issues the airline has encountered.

“At the meeting, when we discussed it, he was in agreement that these need to be made into higher priorities for the airport,” Lawless said on Tuesday evening.

Now, he also feels he has more clarity about what challenges the City had been facing at the airport.

The discussion has left Lawless feeling positive about the airline’s expansion plans at the airport.

“I’m feeling much more positive about expanding in Prince Albert than I was a week ago,” he said. He plans to unveil some of Transwest’s expansion plans in three to six weeks.

“But I do see a very bold future for Transwest Air operations here in Prince Albert and it really warms my heart to be able to sit here today and believe it can happen right here where I live.”

For Lawless, relations have improved over where they were at a week ago. He said he personally felt the “trust had been broken” and he lost all mechanisms to communicate “truthfully and transparently” to City Hall.

He said he explained to Toye why he went to the media before speaking with him about service at the airport.

“I felt complete and utter disillusionment with my mechanisms of communication with City Hall, so I felt that was what I had to do.”

Previously, Lawless said he had discussed the level of service and snow clearing at the airport with airport manager Corey Nygaard, as well as had formal meetings with Toye.

After meeting with Toye on Tuesday, Lawless was more understanding. He said they discussed communication within City Hall.

“They are dealing with several layers of people that are new in the positions, so based on that, I do have some confidence that the lack of the communication that we experienced in getting our message to the city councillors could have been just an honest mistake with new people and new jobs,” Lawless said.

The City has recently filled a number of vacant of positions within administration with new faces. Within the last year, the City hired a new public works director, Amjad Khan and a new airport manager, Nygaard.

Toye said the airport manager has a responsibility to report to the public works director, who has only been on the job for two months. He said the new public works director has no experience with working with airports.

“So, there was a bit of a gap there, certainly I’ll sit down with those individuals and make sure when there are issues brought to us by the airport, or by the airlines or any type of user that facility, that we make sure we have a look at it in a timely way,” Toye said.

During his meeting with Lawless, he said he showed him the monthly reports filed to council by the public works director – or prior to his arrival, the acting director. In the reports, updates on various portfolios –such as the airport, capital projects, sanitation, transportation and water – are discussed.

The Jan. 5, 2015 report includes a brief mention of snow and frost removal.

“Snow and frost removal on the runway and other movement surfaces has been extensive this month. There have been several days of freezing rain, light snow and warm weather causing frost to propagate.”

The Nov. 4, 2014 report mentions staff was preparing the snow removal equipment for winter runway maintenance and that de-icing products are on site.

Beyond that, those reports contain no other mentions about snow and ice conditions at the airport, or runway and ramp clearing.

Toye admitted there was a “bit of a gap there” when it came to the reports.

“And you know, we learn by these things and we’ll do a better job.”

He said when he reads the reports he feels the airport manager was doing their job. He, himself will be assuming the blame for any communication breakdown that may have occurred.

“I’m not going to blame any director. Any time that there’s an issue like that, I’m the city manager and I take responsibility for it. So, if there’s any fingers to be pointed regarding this particular matter, it’s on Jim Toye.”

Lawless said the communication to city council has happened and he is happy about that. While he doesn’t forsee future meetings involving himself and Toye, he said he’s also happy that Toye isn’t denying or belittling any of the complaints lodged by Transwest.

“He sees them as important as well and he wants to try to work to solve them as much as we do.”

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames

by Thia James

Meeting improves relations between City, Transwest

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