The split between Minot International Airport and its long time parking operator appears to be necessary, but still somewhat disappointing because of what it represents.
ARM Parking, operated by the Dakota Territory Air Museum and the Railroad Museum of Minot, has managed the parking operation at the airport for years. The non-profit museums benefit financially from running ARM Parking. But the requirements and necessities of running the airport parking operation have grown beyond the capabilities of ARM. The city will assume ownership of the airport's parking, and officials with ARM decided to end the agreement with the airport at the end of the year because they would be unable to sustain operations on a new management fee offered by the city.
The years-long agreement has worked well in the past, with the airport getting quality service and ARM earning money for the museums. But the days of having three flights daily in and out of Minot and half-empty parking lots are long gone. The airport needs a fulltime parking operator whose sole responsibility is running an efficient parking operation, and that is something ARM simply isn't equipped to handle.
The decision represents yet another aspect of continuing change in Minot. Out of necessity, ARM will be replaced by a larger company not because of bad service, but simply because the task has grown too large for a small, mom-and-pop type operation. Yes, the times are definitely changing.