Arens Field has a new manager. The Pulaski County Commissioners appointed Daryn Wilder to manage the airport Monday, at the recommendation of Board of Aviation Commissioners President Jeremy Wegner.
“He has done a lot of online work buying and selling auto parts,” Wegner said. “He actually worked at the airport several years ago when he was much younger. . . . So he has the administrative skills that he would need to be able to handle the buying and selling of the fuel, the administration of the grants and also the physical ability to take care of the grounds maintenance that we would need.”
Wegner noted that the airport is currently upgrading its lighting system to LED technology thanks to federal funding, and upgrades are also planned to the terminal building and other infrastructure.
Wilder was chosen from a pool of 11 applicants. Some county officials had expressed interest in selling or leasing the airport while the position was vacant, but there were a number of obstacles to doing that.
There was some slight confusion when Commissioner Mike McClure appeared to mention a different name in his motion to make the appointment, which was then approved with no further comment. Auditor Laura Wheeler confirms that Daryn Wilder is, in fact, the one who was hired.
