By Ryan D. Wilson
Clay Center Dispatch
CLAY CENTER, Kan. — Lack of management at the Clay Center Municipal Airport has created an issue for County EMS ambulance services.
Because no one answered the phone at the Municipal Airport to verify weather conditions, a fixed-wing air ambulance wasn’t able to land at the airport when needed for the rollover that resulted from a police pursuit south of town on K-15 on April 2.
EMS director Marvin Van Blaricon expressed that air ambulances through LifeTeam, EagleMed and Children’s Mercy Hospital may not land in Clay Center for that reason.
However, in the case of April 2 roll-over, air ambulances were willing to land in neighboring airports in Abilene and Concordia, provided Clay County EMS could meet them there, he said.
Air ambulance service is already in jeopardy because of remarking the municipal airport for a shortened runway that’s 200 feet or more shorter than the existing 4,200-foot runway, according to Van Blaricon.
Children’s Mercy has already said they will not land in a runway less that 3,800 feet, Van Blaricon said. It’s possible the runway may be shortened that much if the city chooses not to enforce right-of-way on a neighboring irrigated farm.
Van Blaricon said he’s particularly concerned about the air ambulance to Children’s Mercy, because it’s a three-and-a-half-hour transfer by road. Also, a helicopter may not be able to make it to Kansas City without refueling, he added.
Van Blaricon said he will speak to the hospital’s ER committee about options.
Company leaves manager position vacant
The city has been without an airport manager for a couple of months following the resignation of a Heinen Brothers employee.
Currently, the city is paying Heinen Brothers to operate and manage the airport on a three-year contract for $10,000 a year. The company also received a $200-a-month credit for use of the main hangar in exchange for an automatic fuel pump added at the airport. The contract pays Heinen brothers twice a year, the last time was in December, according to City Clerk Kerry Rozman.
No number to contact the company was posted in the lobby of the main hangar. A sign is posted on the door to contact wastewater superintendent Kent Hessling if there is any trouble with the automatic pumps.
More on this issue will be made public after The Dispatch speaks to Heinen Brothers partner Scott Heinen later in the week.