Vance Brand Airport

229 Airport Road

Longmont, CO. 80503
(303) 651-8431
Purpose
On April 12, 2015, City Council requested that staff provide an explanation regarding an
assertion by Citizens for Quiet Skies that Mile Hi Skydiving owes the City back payments for the
drop zone. The information below represents City staffs collection of relevant data and analysis
regarding this question.
Drop Zone Background
The City of Longmont instituted a Permit Fee in 2007. Under this ordinance, an area was
originally designated primarily for Mile Hi Skydiving, but this and other unleased property is also
available for but not limited to ultralights, skydivers from other skydiving operations, hot air
balloons, and para-gliders.
Relevant FAA Guidelines to the Question
FAA grant assurance 22 Economic Nondiscrimination does not allow the airport to charge one
tenant and not charge others for the same type of use.
a. It will make the airport available as an airport for public use on reasonable terms and
without unjust discrimination to all types, kinds and classes of aeronautical activities, including
commercial aeronautical activities offering service to the public at the airport.
h. The sponsor may establish such reasonable, and not unjustly discriminatory,
conditions to be met by all users of the airport as may be necessary for the safe and efficient
operation of the airport.
Investigation of Past Billing and Related Practices
Bills and Invoices: City staff assembled all invoices from Mile Hi for mowing, Kramer Lawn
Services (the current mowing contractor) and all payments made by Mile Hi related to the drop
zone fee
Interviews: Airport Manager Slayter interviewed and corresponded with the following
individuals, asking for background information around why Mile Hi did not make drop zone fee
payments:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Don Bessler, then supervisor of Airport Manager

Tim Barth, former Airport Manager
Frank Casares, owner of Mile Hi Skydiving
Gordon Pedrow---Discussion with City Manager Harold Dominguez

Don Bessler noted that he was aware of an agreement between the City and Mile Hi Skydiving.
He later called back and clarified that he knew that there was a maintenance contract but was

not aware the Drop Zone fee was waived as part of this or he would have told Tim to put it into
writing.
Tim Barth stated that there was a verbal agreement between the City and Mile Hi in which Mile
Hi did not pay the drop zone fee in exchange for mowing services at the airport. He said this
agreement was arranged between Mile Hi and former Community Development Director Phil
Delvechio as well as Don Bessler with approval from Gordon Pedrow.
Previous responses for public records request made by Mr. Barth indicated two reasons as to
why Mile-Hi was not charged the annual permit fee. They were:
1. That there was a verbal agreement that Mile-Hi would not be charged due to their
agreement to mow and not charge the city for the amount it would take to cover the
cost of the permit fee
2. Mr. Barth indicated that he did not have the resources needed to catch others using the
south side of the airport in order to charge them, therefore, it would be a violation of
Grant Assurance 22 to charge Mile-Hi for their use, and not charge other users because
he could not identify who was using the property.
Frank Casares stated that there was a verbal agreement between the City and Mile Hi in which
Mile Hi did not pay the drop zone fee in exchange for mowing services at the airport. He said the
arrangement was made between him and Phil Delvechio and Don Bessler. He also noted that
the City got free services from Mile Hi in excess of the $7,500 drop zone fee, and that if the City
was to come after past payments, Mile Hi would win in court.
Gordon Pedrow indicated that he was never made aware of an agreement to perform in in-kind
services in lieu of paying for the $7,500 drop zone fee.
Analysis of the Invoices and Billing Statements

Current contract charges at a rate of $30/Hour and was billed by and paid to Terry Kramer of
Kramer Lawn Services (Current Contractor) the amount of $11,155.00 in 2015
o Equates to 371.83 hours billed for the year
o Current contractor did not maintain the drop zone or the area for the original Lease
11SD (South Parcel)
o Mile High Aviation Services maintained the same area included in the billing by Kramer
Lawn Services.

Paid to Mile-Hi Aviation Services for mowing and ancillary work (not including snow removal)
Contract
Year:

* Billable
Hours:

** Rate/Hour:

*** Amount
Billed/Paid:

2015

Difference Not
Charged:

371.83

$60

$22,310

2014

132.25

$60

$7,935

$14,375

2013

196.17

$60

$11,770

$10,540

2012

194.5

$60

$11,670

$10,640

2011

90.31

$60

$5,419

$16,891

N/A

* 2015 is the hours used as the base amount for the comparison
** $60/Hour is used as the constant rate for comparison purposes 2015 rate is actually $30/hour
*** 2015 Amount Billed is actually $11,155 (@ $30/Hour) - all other
years are actual amounts billed

For Discussion purposes, an analysis was performed for the event that Mile-Hi Aviation Services
was able to perform the mowing more quickly than the current contractor; this analysis
deducted 50 hours from the current contractors billable hours in 2015; Below is a breakdown of
that analysis
Billable Hours Reduced By 50 Hours for Discussion Purposes
Contract * Billable
*** Amount Difference Not
Year:
Hours:
** Rate/Hour: Billed/Paid:
Charged:
2015
321.83
$60
$19,310
N/A
2014
132.25
$60
$7,935
$11,375
2013
196.17
$60
$11,770
$7,540
2012
194.5
$60
$11,670
$7,640
2011
90.31
$60
$5,419
$13,891
* 2015 is the hours used as the base amount for the comparison with 50
hours deducted in the event Mile-Hi did the work faster
** $60/Hour is used as the constant rate for comparison purposes 2015 rate is actually $30/hour
*** 2015 Amount Billed is actually $11,155 (@ $30/Hour) - all other
years are actual amounts billed

Conclusion:
Based on the aforementioned analysis, it does appear that Mile-Hi aviation services was not billing for
the total hours required to maintain the areas designated in the mowing contract. Beyond this type of
analysis it is difficult to get a more granular evaluation. The City Attorneys Office will provide separately
to the Council a legal assessment.

Attached below is the Analysis Spreadsheet (Exhibit A) illustrating the details of the billing and charges
information shown in this report.

EXHIBIT A

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Analysis Deducting 50 Hours