BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. – Supervisor Rich Lettman, District 2, wrote a lengthy letter to the Mohave County Airport Authority (MCAA) Board of Directors, listing all his concerns and problems with them and the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport Director James Scheller. A week later, that letter was followed with a Resolution being filed in the County Recorder’s office as the next step to Mohave County taking control of the airport. The MCAA has 27 days from August 11 to respond.
For weeks, the Board of Supervisors has openly discussed the problems and allegations of illegal actions made by Scheller.
Some of the problems discussed and listed in Lettman’s letter and in the Resolution include: continued operating losses, growing debt load, and the lack of a written plan for a strategy to mitigate negative unrestricted cash flow.
Lettman’s letter stated the airport listed an operating loss of $563,400 from a $3,786,000 budget for the year ending June 30, 2025 and an operating loss of $664,600 on a $4,935,000 budget, both unaudited.
The Resolution stated that the fiscal year ending June 30 of this year had an operating loss of $4,500,000, which is in review. Also listed was the contract Scheller had made on a promissory note for $700,000 to Titan Fuels without board approval. There was no public hearing on the loan nor was it included in the FY27 budget.
In total the resolution to take over the airport listed 19 reasons for the takeover by the Mohave County Board of Supervisors.
Interim director hired for Laughlin Bullhead Airport
According to Supervisor Rich Lettman, District 2, an Interim Director has been hired to take James Scheller’s place once the county takes over the airport.
“Scheller is still the Airport Director,” Lettman said. “We have hired Ed Faron, to be a consultant and eventually Interim Director (once we assume control of the airport),” Lettman stated.
Faron was hired through Interim Public Management, LLC, out of Phoenix with an extensive history of aviation management experience.
He retired this past March after 24 years with the City of Phoenix Aviation Department.
He managed the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, the busiest general aviation airport in the country, from 2013 until his retirement earlier this year.
Previously, he held various positions at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport such as Spanning Operations, Business Properties, Administration and Facilities.
Faron is also former president of the Arizona Airports Association and has been recognized as Arizona’s Airport Executive of the Year.
