Flying solo

During the May 21 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, the governing body of Saratoga did more than listen to a presentation from Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. The council made an appointment to the vacant seat on the Recreation Commission and attempted to make appointments to the newly created Saratoga Airport Advisory Board, but were prevented from doing so by the recently passed airport board ordinances.

As was reported previously, a vacancy was created on the Recreation Commission with the removal of Chia Valdez-Schwartz by the town council following a recommendation from the commission. The same night the vacancy was created, the council also gave Recreation Director Lisa Burton permission to advertise for the open seat. By the May 21 meeting, the council had received one letter of interest from Saratoga resident Ben Spaulding.

Spaulding has been a driving force behind the newly formed Platte Valley Little League, which recently began its season. The town council unanimously approved Spaulding to serve on the Recreation Commission.

Along with Spaulding’s letter of interest in the Recreation Commission, the council also heard two letters of interest in the Saratoga Airport Advisory Board. One was from former Saratoga Airport Board member, and current hangar owner, Arlen Hughes. The other was from hangar owner Ladd Sanger.

According to recently passed ordinance 851, a maximum of one hangar owner, or ground lessee, may serve on the council. This was brought up by the Saratoga Sun during the council meeting. No action was taken on the two letters of interest. As a result, the Saratoga Airport Advisory Board still has only one member, town council representative Jon Nelson.