Gravina Smith Matte NAPLES NEWS
City Council Names Two New Airport Commissioners
November 15, 2013
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  • The Naples City Council appointed Richard P. Evans and James T. Rideoutte to the board of commissioners of the City of Naples Airport Authority. The board includes five citizen volunteers, each appointed for a four-year term to govern the airport authority.

    Evans and Rideoutte are replacing Linda Flewelling and Ernest Linneman, whose terms are expiring. Other commissioners are John Allen, Cormac Giblin and John Nocera.

    Evans holds a business degree from Kent State University, worked for 3M for 34 years and retired from a military electronics firm in 2000. He has been visiting Naples for 40 years and became a full-time resident nine years ago. He has volunteered with trade and homeowner associations and has held leadership positions with his church and country club. Evans has served on the Noise Compatibility Committee since March.

    Rideoutte holds a business degree from University of South Carolina and a master’s in management from Central Michigan University. He held executive assignments throughout the country during his career with the Internal Revenue Service. Since retiring to Naples in 1989, he has been an active community volunteer and, since 2001, served as executive director of The Naples Players, a position he will leave at the end of the year. Rideoutte is a graduate of the Greater Naples Leadership Masters Program, Class II, and is Trustee Emeritus of the Community Foundation of Collier County.

    The Florida legislature created the City of Naples Airport Authority in 1969 as an independent governmental unit charged with the operation, development and improvement of Naples Municipal Airport. All funds used for the airport’s operation, maintenance and improvements are generated from activities at the airport or from federal and state grants; the airport receives no property tax dollars.

    Naples Municipal Airport, a certificated air carrier airport, is home to flight schools, air charter operators and corporate aviation and nonaviation businesses as well as community services such as fire/rescue services, mosquito control, car rental agencies and the Collier County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit. During the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the airport accommodated 91,605 takeoffs and landings.

    The Florida Department of Transportation values the airport’s economic impact to the community at more than $273 million annually.

    http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/nov/15/city-council-names-two-new-airport-commissioners-1/