PINEDALE – A string of motions passed by the Pinedale Town Council on July 10 formally established the municipality as the fixed base operator (FBO) for the Pinedale Airport-Ralph Wenz Field.

Emblem Aviation, the previous FBO, began negotiations to transfer most of its responsibilities to the town this spring. The council started the process with formal action at its May 1 special meeting.

Emblem plans to remain at the airport in a limited role. Council members unanimously approved a two-year special aviation service operation (SASO) agreement with Emblem on July 10, outlining services the company will continue to provide.

Emblem’s ongoing commitments include aviation mechanics, commercial hangar leasing, aircraft sales and the operation of flying clubs and organization of events like the Short Take Off and Landing Competition, or STOL. Emblem intends to maintain its car-rental operation as well.

The Pinedale Airport Board reviewed the SASO agreement and recommended approval by the town, said Abram Pearce, director of public works.

The town council passed a second motion on July 10 to lease a portion of the FBO building, hangar space and parking lot to Emblem to conduct the business outlined above for two years.

A third motion passed unanimously permitting the town to lease the temporary Jet-A fuel tanker from Emblem at a monthly rate of $3,000 for two years.

The town intends to install a permanent fuel farm at Ralph Wenz Field and is in the process of applying for a $440,000 loan from the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) to construct a facility to dispense Jet-A fuel, said Pearce.

Pending SLIB approval for the project, the town will continue to use the temporary tanker. Mayor Matt Murdock expressed optimism for SLIB’s approval of the fuel farm loan application.

Generating revenue at the Pinedale Airport is important to the success of the FBO, and council members unanimously endorsed a resolution establishing fees for services at Ralph Wenz Field. The resolution set rates for landing fees, overnight parking, hangar use and fuel, among others.

Fuel prices and sales will play a “crucial” role in determining the town’s ability to break even at the airport, said Mayor Murdock. The town’s first year as the FBO will involve a learning curve in the aviation fuel industry, he added, and the council can revisit the resolution to amend the rates as the market fluctuates, Murdock added.

The fuel prices formulated in the July 10 resolution are competitive with other municipal airports in the region, including Afton, Big Piney and Rock Springs, Mayor Murdock told the council. Pilots based at the Pinedale Airport will receive a discount on fuel to encourage use of Ralph Wenz Field, Murdock added.

The Airport Board lent its expertise of the aviation market to help develop the fee schedule, said Riley Wilson, airport manager. All FBO fees will be collected from a single point-of-sale system that will make it easy to track revenue streams, Wilson continued.

Council members also approved a motion for the town to purchase $300,000 worth of FBO equipment from Emblem to operate the airport. Another motion allowed town staff to purchase damage and liability insurance for the FBO equipment and a courtesy car.

Sale of 210 W. Pine Street

Following an executive session to discuss real estate, the town council passed a motion to sell the 0.29-acre parcel at 210 W. Pine St. where the old town hall stood.

The town will advertise the property for sale in various media outlets for several months, said Mayor Murdock. Council members are expected to vote on a resolution outlining each of the deed restrictions for the lot on July 24, Murdock added. The final sale will be either a closed-envelope format or an auction bid, the mayor continued.

Crews demolished the old town hall in 2016 when the building was judged unsafe due to the presence of asbestos, said Murdock.

On Nov. 8, the town council approved the purchase of the former Ultra building at 205 Entertainment Lane to use as the new town hall.

The location will accommodate the town clerk, director of public works, planning and zoning staff, travel and tourism staff and the municipal judge, according to the town’s website.

A grand opening for the new town hall is planned for September. Town council meetings will also take place at 205 Entertainment Lane beginning this fall.

COLA for town employees

Council members voted unanimously to approve a 5-percent, across-the-board, cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all town staff in the budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1.

The council began discussing a COLA this spring in response to rising costs of living and a hike in federal interest rates, said Mayor Murdock. The 2023 COLA is the first one received by employees in “multiple years,” Murdock added.

“We have to take care of employees and be able to compete with the private industry,” Murdock told the Roundup.