Cole County Commission backs United Airline deal

By a 2-1 vote, the Cole County Commission approved an agreement to help guarantee United Airlines' profit in its first year at Columbia Regional Airport.

Earlier this month, the Jefferson City Finance Committee sent the same proposal to the full City Council.

If the airline falls short of $600,000 in revenue in its first year of flights from Columbia Regional Airport to Denver International Airport, Columbia and its community partners - including Jefferson City and Cole County - would make up the difference.

Columbia city officials said Jefferson City would contribute $100,000 and Cole County $50,000.

Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman and Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle voted in favor of giving the $50,000, while Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher voted against.

"I want to see the airport grow, but I'm not comfortable giving this money away," Hoelscher said.

However, Scheperle said, "To get growth sometimes you need to take risks and stick your neck out."

The most recent airline revenue guarantee was in 2012 with American Airlines. That agreement guaranteed the airline approximately $3 million in profits, but did not end up costing Jefferson City or Cole County anything out of pocket.

In the previous revenue guarantee, which was substantially larger, Columbia was able to raise almost all of the revenue from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, large businesses in Columbia, the University of Missouri, Boone County, Jefferson City and Cole County.

These organizations contribute because of how beneficial the airport is for them.

Columbia officials said United Airlines asked for a smaller revenue guarantee because the airport has grown in the past few years, noting a few years ago only 4 percent of travelers came from Jefferson City. That figure is now up to 20 percent.

In other County Commission business Tuesday, commissioners approved $25,000 to the Cole County First Responders group to continue assisting the county's ambulance service on medical calls. It's the same amount the county contributed last year.

The money pays primarily for equipment such as radios and pagers, as well as medical equipment and workers compensation and health insurance.

The funds help to stock 45 equipment bags kept with responders around the county to be used when emergency calls arise.