EKAD okays fees to speed development
Will cut county processing time for clients "We are trying to save our clients time."- Stuart Witt
Mojave Desert News - 05/05/2008
By Bill Deaver
MOJAVE - In an effort to speed development at the Mojave Airport/Spaceport, East Kern Airport District board members Tuesday approved fees for a process that will help the district's clients bypass the county planning department.
EKAD General Manager Stuart Witt said the process, made possible by a "precise development (PD)" plan approved by the planning department and board of supervisors, allows the district to perform planning and engineering services normally handled by the county.
"We have people walking in the door regularly" interested in developing business at the airport. Normally, these potential clients would be required to go through a lengthy planning process with the county, a process made even more longer by county staff shortages.
The new "PD" planning process lets the district use its engineers and staff to do what the county would normally do.
"We have the expertise and we can do it quicker," Witt said, explaining that the process has already been used to allow Flight Research, which maintains aircraft for the National Test Pilot School, to plan its new hangar.
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Saving clients' time
"We believe we can beat the time it takes the county to do this," Witt said.
"We are trying to save our clients time."
The fee schedule approved by the board charges customers the same fees they would pay to the county. "Fees are fees," Witt said, adding that customers are more interested "n a timely response than in the fees."
The fees are designed to cover the district's expenses rather than make any profit.
"It is really good that we can offer this as a package," said EKAD board president Jim Balentine.
Witt noted that the district already has lists of fees for other services, such as providing water trucks to movie companies. "This will be the same," he said.
Projects handled with the new process will go to the county for final approval.
Going solar
In other business, Balentine, who recently installed solar panels on his Mojave home, suggested that the district "go solar" to reduce energy costs and help improve the environment.
Witt said the district is already looking into installing solar panels on buildings at the airport and at allowing a California City firm to install a solar powerplant on the airport.
"It's the right thing to do," Balentine said, and his board colleagues agreed.
Training
Board member Marie Walker suggested the district make management courses offered by Antelope Valley College to district employees and to employees of local businesses. She said she has discussed the proposal with a representative of the college.