Rhinelander city council sits on airport appointment decision for now

The Rhinelander city council decided to hold off on approving the mayor’s new appointment to the airport commission during its March 10 meeting. 

Alderperson Thomas Barnett read a letter in the public comment portion of the meeting from current airport commission member Geoff Weller.

He said he received an email from Weller the day prior and proceeded to read it into the record. 

Weller, according to Barnett while reading the email, said he wanted to attend the meeting, but was unable to make it. 

“I’m writing you today asking for your help,” Weller said. “As you may know, every five years the commission seats come up for re-appointment. The re-appointment responsibility shifts back and forth between the city and the county. Looking back, there is no record of a time where a sitting Rhinelander-Oneida County airport commissioner who was seeking re-appointment wasn’t re-appointed.”

Weller said he contacted city administrator Patrick Reagan in February and indicated he still wanted to be on the airport commission. 

He said Reagan sent his reasons for wanting to continue on the commission to mayor Kris Hanus, but never received a reply. 

Weller said he didn’t think much of not hearing anything, given the 100 percent re-appointment rate and that he understands the mayor is busy. 

“I have a passion for aviation and meteorology,” he said in his letter. “I’m a pilot and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certified flight instructor. My contributions to the commission have been numerous, respected and well received. The Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport is thriving.”

Weller said he was then made aware his position on the commission was added to the city council’s March 10 meeting agenda.

“To my surprise and bewilderment, I was not being nominated for re-appointment,” he said. 

Instead, Weller noted, alderperson Bob Lueder was named Hanus’s appointment and not him “with no meaningful explanations that lead back to me and my exemplary performance.”

“I’m sure Bob Lueder is a great guy and he’s not a pilot or FAA certified flight instructor, qualifications that have served this commission well, especially at a time of heightened aviation security,” he said. “I’m writing you today to reconsider the nomination of Bob Lueder. Press pause, invite me to speak in front of council. I will gladly walk everyone through the celebrated success of the airport and the airport’s leadership team, of which I’m proud to be a contributing member.”

Alderperson Carrie Mikalauski noted she received the same email, as well as alderperson David Holt. 

When the council made its way to the consent agenda portion of the meeting, Hanus said he wanted to remove the appointment and make it a separate agenda item for discussion. 

The council agreed. 

Barnett indicated he’s in favor of re-appointing Weller to the airport commission. 

Hanus said to his understanding, Lueder’s name was brought to the March 10 meeting for the council to agree or disagree with the appointment. He indicated the council wouldn’t be able to re-appoint Weller at the March 10 meeting because that specifically wasn’t listed on the meeting agenda. 

Ultimately, the council agreed to approve the mayor’s March 10 appointments except for Lueder to the airport commission. 

“In light of transparency,” Mikalauski said she thought it was only fair to invite all who applied to be on the airport commission to speak to the council and advocate for themselves to be appointed. 

City attorney Steven Sorenson clarified that under the city’s ordinance, the mayor appoints and the council either approves those appointments or denies them. 

“There’s no provision that says that the council appoints,” he said. “So, I mean, you could put off the vote … of Bob Lueder to the airport commission. But just understand it’s still the mayor’s appointment.”

Alderperson Gerald Anderson said he agreed with Mikalauski. He said he thinks there needs to be some type of contribution to the process. 

“The only thing that I would point out is if you do it for one, you should do it for every position,” Hanus said. “You shouldn’t treat one position differently. So if you want every candidate for every volunteer position to come and speak before council I’m fine with that, but it’s going to be a lot, just to be honest.”

Holt spoke to the process, saying “the question isn’t should we have people come and speak before council, the question is what was the logic and rationale behind the change?”

Before Hanus explained his reasoning for bringing his appointment of Lueder to the council, Sorenson said a motion with regard to Lueder’s appointment to either approve or deny it needed to be made first for sake of discussion. 

Alderperson Luke Kramer made that motion.

Hanus said roughly a year ago, the council revised the process which included an application form. The city clerk, he said, receives those applications and they are forwarded to him. Hanus said he then picks a candidate. 

“For the airport commission, we had two candidates, we had Bob Lueder, who you guys know, and we had Geoff, who’s a current sitting member,” he said. “The airport commission is a unique commission where we appoint one and then the county appoints one because it’s 50/50 ownership. So it kind of goes back and forth who gets appointed.”

Weller was appointed to a five year term by the county, Hanus said. 

“So both of them are highly qualified,” he said. “I mean Geoff is a good guy. He’s done a lot for the airport commission. Part of the reasons I tilted more towards Bob was a couple. One, we have an agreement with the airport for ownership that dates back to the 50s. In the next couple years, that needs to be updated and modernized. You know, you don’t see too many agreements that are still done with type-writing print. You know, having someone who also sits on this body who’s going to have to vote on that new agreement, from an ownership point of view, I think has a value. That way he could explain how that commission got to the updated agreement.”

Lueder’s background, “as far as airports, airplanes and knowledge of working with that,” was another reason Hanus said he thought Lueder was a good option for the commission, as well as his connection with local businesses and the chamber.

“But those are the things that kind of tipped it for me more for Bob,” he said. “A very wise person said about a year ago one of the ways you move the needle forward is you do cross pollination — you know, you bring people in. A term for the airport commission is five years, it’s not a term for life … you get appointed, you serve your term. And I thank Geoff for what he’s done. By no means is this a negative on him or that he’s done something wrong. This is ‘Geoff did a great job’ and he’s welcome to attend these meetings. It’s open to the public, he can attend, he can contribute and help the airport grow. But I think having a direct connection to the city council going forward with the new contract and the budgets, I think, has a great value.”

Lueder spoke next. 

Barnett, though, said he didn’t feel it was fair for Lueder “to tell us why he’s the candidate for it and nobody else can.”

Hanus said because of Weller’s email including his qualifications being read, he thinks it’s fair for Lueder to speak. 

Lueder said he’s been in the “aviation market” for over four decades.

“In those 41 years, I’ve seen many aspects of aviation and airport operations,” he said. “Through military, commercial, private or general aviation … I’ve had interactions with … airports, the FAA, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and other government agencies, as well as airlines and have helped with negotiations with airline baggage and handling fees, fuel fees and also landing and taxing fees. So I have a little bit to contribute. I also deal with airports around the country, cities that operate those airports … so I interact with maintenance facilities around the country … and with those maintenance facilities, I’ve had a lot of interaction with airports, and airport operations, and airport management.”

Lueder admitted he’s not FAA certified or a flight instructor, but added he doesn’t think those are “relevant requirements for bringing a positive movement forward for the airport.”

“You know, having a basic understanding of aviation and how the airports work I think is key and I believe that I can contribute,” he said. “And you’re not going to hurt my feelings if you decide that somebody else is a better candidate or a better fit. I was asked if I’d like to be part of this and I said I would because I feel like I can contribute, and that’s where it ends. If you don’t feel like I’m the guy, then I’m not the guy and I’m alright with that.”

Anderson wanted to know if Lueder’s appointment would cause any conflict of interest, but Sorenson said he doesn’t believe it would based on a conversation he had with Lueder. 

Anderson proceeded to make a motion to table Lueder’s appointment with Barnett seconding it. Lueder abstained and it passed unanimously among the rest of the council.

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at trevorgreene@lakelandtimes.com.