12/20/2006

Airport workers losing jobs

Officials approve contract with outside company

BY SHERI McWHIRTER

sherimcwhirter@hotmail.com

GAYLORD — Harvey Nicholson worked in maintenance at Gaylord Regional Airport for more than 10 years. Six days before Christmas he learned he's about to lose his job.

Otsego County officials' decision Tuesday took him by surprise, Harvey said.

"I think we do a good job. I think we're a good team,” Nicholson said as he filed out of a meeting in Gaylord.

Otsego County commissioners unanimously voted to approve a contract worth more than $186,000 with an outside company for maintenance and other services at the small airport on the west side of Gaylord. The decision will cost three local residents their longtime jobs by year's end and is expected to save the county about $20,000.

"It's small savings in light of what you're losing in experienced employees,” said union representative Ellen Keith, of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

She encouraged commissioners to find other ways to save money so they might keep local employees on the payroll. Pay cuts and loss of personal days were proposed by the union during a bargaining session less than two weeks ago, she said.

Commissioner Ken Glasser said officials asked for millage increases to pay for various county services, pleas for general fund tax hikes that voters soundly rejected twice in the past four years. Reductions in county expenses are now necessary, Glasser said, "as much as I hate cutting people's jobs, especially this time of year,” he said.

Commissioners last month agreed to try and save the airport workers' jobs, but opted instead for a three-year contract with a Pellston company for cleaning, snow removal, maintenance and other services.