Brookings City Manager Emeritus Gary Milliman has been elected as vice chair of the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority.
The BCRAA is a joint powers agency created by the cities of Brookings and Crescent City, counties of Del Norte and Curry, and tribal governments of the Elk Valley Rancheria and Tolowa DEE-ni’ Nation. The BCRAA manages the Del Norte County Regional Airport and two other general aviation airports in Del Norte County.
Milliman will be the first Oregonian to serve in a BCRAA leadership capacity and was elected by the board at its February 4 meeting. Del Norte County Commissioner Gerry Hemmingsen was re-elected board chair.
“I am honored to be selected by my fellow board members to serve in this role,” Milliman said. He has served on the BCRAA Board representing the city of Brookings since 2008 and was instrumental in expanding the BCRAA membership to include Brookings and Curry County.
“We have achieved much to improve air service to our region by working in partnership through the BCRAA,” Milliman said. “We have a new, state-of-the art airport terminal and recently signed a five-year agreement to stabilize passenger air service at the DNCRA. We have attracted a new air carrier, Contour Air, and they are providing consistent, quality service.”
Milliman noted the BCRAA is currently evaluating a change in the connecting airport from Oakland to Sacramento.
“Flying through Sacramento would enable Contour passengers to book-through to any destination served by American Airlines, eliminating the current need re-check baggage and change terminals,” Milliman said. “I believe most Curry County residents seeking to use air service do so to make connections with flights going to more distant destinations. If we can make those connections easier through an interline connection between Contour and American, the flying public will be better serviced.”