Mark VanLoh, the aviation director of Kansas City, announced on Friday that he will be retiring at the end of May.
Taking his place will be Assistant City Manager Patrick Klein.
Patrick Klein, new aviation director
VanLoh has led the Aviation Department for the last 12 years, and the change comes at a crucial time for the department. Next Tuesday, the city’s Leadership Committee is expected to put a proposal in to City Council calling for a new terminal to be built at KCI. The new terminal would take the place of Terminal A at the current facility and focus on modernizing airport security in Kansas City while offering more retail space than the current design.
VanLoh has been a key player during the KCI talks with the city, and his replacement has made presentations to City Council on possible future plans.
Klein said he knows he has big shoes to fill.
“The revenues have doubled here at the Aviation Department during his time,” Klein explained. “There's been a ton more economic development. He's been at this for years. He lives it day to day. He sees when there's issues."
With the change being announced days before the big proposal, Klein understands the next few months will be busy.
“I'm glad the way the transition is working,” he said. “There's a retirement and I've got the ability to have the five weeks with Mark here."
However, City Councilman Quinton Lucas questioned why the change is happening at such an important time.
“I don't like so many things up in the air when we're really thinking about taking a generational change with what's happening at KCI,” he explained.
Lucas credited VanLoh for a number of successes at KCI, including upholding things many people love about the current design.
“A lot of people like KCI for the convenience and the cleanliness, and that's something he's been a part of since 2004,” Lucas said.
The proposal from the Leadership Committee does not mean KCI’s future is determined. City Council would still have to approve the new terminal plan, which is something Lucas still has questions on.
“I think we need to lay out a clear argument as to why the billion-dollar total is the right one," said Lucas.
After next Tuesday’s meeting, City Council will decide on whether or not to approve the new terminal plan. May 11 serves as the deadline for City Council to put the issue on the ballot in August for voters. If City Council does not make a decision by then, the new terminal plan would likely be on the ballot for voters in November.
Lucas knows the stakes are high moving forward.
“It's a big decision,” he explained. “I hope we take the time that's necessary to make it."
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
