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EJM official writes response to article
Published Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday’s article on EJM Aerospace Services did not provide all the facts and presented our company in a very unfair light. In January of 2007, EJM entered into a partnership with the Andalusia-Opp Airport Authority to construct a state-of-the-art hangar at the Andalusia Airport. The facility was to be paid for by EJM through monthly rent of $31,425 or over $377,000 per year. That’s over $1,000 per day! With these funds, the Authority was to pay off the entire facility in only five years. Most homeowners pay on their homes for 30 years, can you imagine the monthly payment on a five-year mortgage? It would be much more than you could ever hope to rent the house for.
Yet, EJM entered into a five-year lease with the Authority at an inflated rental rate so that the community through the Airport Authority could claim full ownership of such a tremendous facility after only five years without any out-of-pocket costs to the community. We believed so much in the vision for our community that we were willing to invest such substantial sums of money in the lease.
Like most businesses in this economy, EJM struggled to generate new work and has faced difficult business decisions. From a peak of 105, our workforce has been reduced to 29. Yet, through these difficult times, we struggled to make each difficult decision with our employees in mind. Unfortunately, last month this meant we had to vacate the Andalusia facility because there was no work available to keep the facility productive. In this process, additional jobs were lost which I view as a personal tragedy. Yet, a worse decision would have been to continue to pay for a facility that sits idle knowing that it would ultimately result in the closure of the business and the loss of the remaining jobs. We chose to remain in business and to continue to provide employment for 29 families that depend on EJM for their livelihood.
During EJM’s time in the hangar, the Authority received over $1 million from EJM. These funds were used by the Authority to substantially reduce the debt owed on this cutting-edge facility which will continue to be a valuable asset to the community far into the future. I would also note that contrary to statements made in your article, EJM’s option to construct a second hangar was never exercised. Actually, this option was assigned to another company with the consent of the Authority. EJM does not now have, nor has it ever had, any obligation to pay rent on the second hangar. Your one-sided reporting of this matter was personally damaging to me and to the fine, hard-working employees of EJM Aerospace Services. I expected better.
Respectfully
Linda Mlynarczk
President
EJM Aerospace Services
Comments
Posted by sawdust (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EJM still did not fulfill it's end of the deal. bite off more than you can chew?
Posted by bluecollarguy (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 6:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My Grandaddy always taught me it's not what how much you 'take in", but how much you "keep" in business....and to keep your overhead 'low'. Same in small business as in large business. I blame 'both' sides of this airport deal. EMJ and The Airport Authority for making such a raw deal for the residents and taxpayers of our community. The public does not know about all the checks tht has went to this 'uneeded' airport by the residents and citizens of Covington County, it is a 'toy' for just a few, like a golf course, when was the last time someone local 'boarded' a flight at Sanford ?
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Mlynarczk, you and your company broke a contract, a legal, binding contract. You owe the money. PAY IT!
Furthermore, the reporting does not damage the now unemployed workers. They worked for you in good faith that you would provide them with employment. They can hold their heads high. You screwed them!
Ms. Mlynarczk, you should hang your head in shame for abandoning these workers. Did you offer them a nice severance package since you don't have the business savvy to bring in contracts to fulfill your obligations to them? I sincerely doubt it. What about your commitments to the community AND the bank?
Do the right thing and pay what is due and maybe you should buy all of the former workers and their families Christmas presents. An honest effort from your pocket would mean more than a letter trying to cover your ass.
Posted by sonnybubbajunebugjohnson (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Am i wrong about this, wasn't the owner or one of the big wheels at EMJ the one that bought the Portemont house on 29 south that now has a 4-sale sign on it? I was thinking it was someone connected with a business at the airport.
Posted by schmeltit_deltit (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why blame EJM for having the guts to try and make a difference here? EJM tried to bring business to South Alabama but like many other companies out there it just didn't work out. If anyone else has the cajones, feel free to bring in some business, there are a couple of empty hangars out there for you to try.
I feel bad for the workers that lost their jobs, but why are we in a world where a severance package is expected? Did the workers sign a contract for LONG term employment?
If Ms. Mlynarczk did pay the money from her 'binding contract', what good would that do for you or anyone in the community other than the airport authority mafia? Are you willing to go after all the folks whos houses are in foreclosure, they have 'binding contracts' too... don't they?
I thought down here in the Bible Belt the true meaning of Christmas would be understood as the celebration birth of Christ and not about presents.
Posted by hcgresident (anonymous) on November 25, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wait a minute! EJM was in a partnership with another company but that company bailed on them and left them holding the bag. EJM's overhead was not high and countless times there have been employees who "failed to do the job they were hired for".
Ms. Mlynarczk has done her best to try to make a go at the Alabama airport. Don't be pointing at the speck in her eye when there are several companies with planks in them. Having to let the people go was definitely disheartening to her and probably the hardest thing she has ever had to do.
EJM had their fill of employees who only did the bare minimum to get by and never went above and beyond what was expected of them. How can a company grow when you have employees with attitudes of "what's in it for me?" In my experience, this kind of crappy attitude has been the demise of several companies that could have really made something of themselves.
Posted by JMMJ (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just have one question. How is Ms. Mlynarczk/EJM able to walk away from a legally binding contract without any consequences or repercussions?
Yes, the Authority offered a heavily inflated lease agreement, but Ms. Mlynarczk signed it. No one forced her (or her company) to enter into the agreement. I know many small businesses who have been hit hard by the economy, but they don't have the option to just walk away and wash their hands like EJM has done. If our business quit paying our bills and just decided not to pay our mortage, I can assure you that we'd get our butts sued quicker that you can shake a stick.
I believe that Ms. Mylnarczk and EJM should be responsible for the balance owed on the lease. If she doesn't like it, take her butt to court.
Posted by andyforlife (anonymous) on December 3, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All I can say is that the Airport will either get the money out of her or her company one. She is in a contract. Either pay up or go bankrupt.
Posted by andyresident (anonymous) on December 3, 2009 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EJM show us the paperwork........
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