Airport Operations Manager Tony Vicari will become the interim director of the

City Manager Ron LeBlanc made the announcement Tuesday night at the Durango City Council meeting.

Vicari will replace Durango-La Plata County Airport Aviation Director Kip Turner.

Vicari will become the interim director when Turner departs June 17, LeBlanc said.

“He is the most qualified person for the job,” the city manager said.

Turner decided in early May to accept the position of executive director of the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority.

Vicari will take over managing a major taxiway paving project, courting new air service, working with an issues committee on a potential ballot question and other projects.

“I asked for consideration based on my existing knowledge of the projects we have underway,” Vicari said.

The airport is going through a leadership change as Durango and La Plata County prepare to ask voters for a tax increase to fund an $85 million airport terminal expansion.

Vicari will provide information to the issues committee, which is forming to work on the campaign for a new terminal. But he will not be involved in the campaign. “Our role isn’t to convince anyone to vote any particular way on a project. ... Our role is really to help educate the community on the challenges that exist at the airport,” Vicari said.

Dennis Ray, aircraft rescue firefighting chief, will serve as the interim assistant airport director and operations manager and help with maintenance and construction, Vicari said. Vicari and Ray will likely be in their interim positions for several months, according to a memo from LeBlanc.

The city and La Plata County have not started searching for a permanent replacement for Turner.

LeBlanc said he is discussing timeline for the search with La Plata County Manager Joe Kerby.

mshinn@durangoherald.com