Proposal calls for stand-alone police department for Joplin Regional Airport

With daily flights to Chicago being added June 6 and more flights planned to Dallas-Fort Worth, the Joplin Regional Airport will need a stand-alone police force, according to documentation provided to Joplin City Council for its 6 p.m. Monday meeting at City Hall.

In the report he will give to the council, Airport Manager Steve Stockam has listed the airport's immediate needs, including the hiring of four police officers.

Manpower issues

With the new flight schedule beginning in June, our responsibilities for Safety and Security will demand Police and Airport staff be at post for 10 hours each day. o LEO Time – 

There will be at least six additional hours above the current staffing level required at the Screening Checkpoint. Airport ARFF Time – 

The additional time required to cover the flights will reduce the Airport staff time available for maintenance/Janitorial duties. o Develop a stand-alone Airport Police Department under the Airport.

This proposal will allow an officer to cover the TSA for all outgoing flights. These will be Airport Positions not JPD. We will develop a new job for this position to be brought for formal council action at the next council meeting, along with a budget amendment,

Other immediate needs Stockam lists include the following:

*Canopy for Bridge #2 (Completed $8000)

• Hold room seating changes (rearranged existing for immediate change)

• Gate Check counter for Bridge #2 (Data & Electrical $1,000)

• Expand Employee Parking (Street Dept. Labor & Base Rock, Paving this summer)

• Expand AA Terminal Lease Space (Additional 660 sq./ft office space)

• Relocate Airport Staff offices to Fire Barn

The report also covers the funding arrangement that was reached earlier.

The new service will begin June 6th with 2 flights per day, except Saturday, with 50 passenger ERJ-145 Regional Jets. In order to secure this service, the Airport/COJ signed a 1-year $600,000 MRG (Minimum Revenue Guarantee) agreement for the service. Council previously approved a partnership agreement to fund the MRG, if needed. The City will fund $400,000 while the remaining $200,000 was pledged through the Economic Development arm of the JACC. These are our community business partners. If the monthly revenue fall short of the baseline the difference will be made up from an equal share from each funding source.