Adam Huening
Greensburg Daily News
Greensburg —
It started with a simple question poised by City Councilor Darrell Poling during a Board of Aviation Commissioners (BOAC) meeting about two months ago. As calls and questions came in to councilors home phones, the members of the Greensburg City Council began wondering where the airport expansion project was going as well.
Monday, the City Council and BOAC will hold a joint meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting, according to both entities, is for the council's information only and no public input or questions will be allowed.
The idea to hold such a meeting, according to council president Bill Wenning, was so the council could be caught up to speed on where the project is in the FAA grant process and to discover where the city council stands in terms of approval. Wenning noted, before the question was raised, it had been awhile since the Aviation Commissioners appeared before the City Council.
"We weren't informed about anything. We don't have any information from the airport board. The last time they informed us was a year and a half ago. We asked them to come back every month to update us, but they haven't been back," Wenning said.
Poling reiterated that sentiment. He said he wants to hear the straight information in order to be fully informed on the subject.
"The keyword here is facts. We've heard a lot of information from the opposition. The airport board has been quiet on the subject, so we're looking for the information as they understand it," Poling said.
With taxpayer money on the line and uncertainty in the air about the project, Wenning said he wants to be caught up to speed on the project and find out if they have any say over how it transpires from this point.
"I'm worried that we don't have a say. That's taxpayer money, and we don't represent the mayor. We represent the taxpayers. We're just trying to do our jobs," Wenning stated.
However, his worries may be warranted. According to Elizabeth Isham Cory, spokeswoman and manager of external communications/public affairs for the FAA's Great Lakes region, the BOAC is the entity it deals with on the project. Even if the city council requested the grant process to cease, the FAA would not abide by its orders.
"According to Indiana law, the BOAC is the entity state and Federal governments deal with on all airport issues," Cory said in an e-mail response.
She noted the council could choose to sway the BOAC to stop seeking grant money, however, it would be on the hook financially for money already received from the FAA.
"The BOAC can always choose not to apply for or accept a federal grant. Once a Federal grant is accepted, the airport enters into a contractual relationship with the federal government, and it incurs obligations that go along with the particular grant," Cory said.
In addition, the authority for the BOAC to pursue the grant and any other project was already decided by the previous city council, of which only two members currently serve in the present administration - Mayor Gary Herbert and Councilor Helen Gardner. According to Ordinance 2007-07-19, the BOAC 'shall be empowered by this council to proceed with procurement and development of an airfield in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration funding programs.' While this ordinance gives the BOAC control to pursue the FAA grant as well as use the power of eminent domain if necessary, Poling said any finances, as he understood it, would still have to pass through the city council. Still, he noted, and Wenning agreed, that giving power over to the subsequent governing body was an unsettling concept.
"We, as the city council, represent the people. I think it's very important we get the power back," Poling said.
Wenning said he was also distressed to find the deed to the airport states Greensburg Municipal Airport is owned by the BOAC, even when taxpayer money was used to purchase it. It should be owned by the City of Greensburg, in his opinion.
And opinions seem to have been running strong and passionately in regards to this project for the past several years. Poling recently sent a letter to editor to the Daily News asking for the people to add their voices to the issue. He noted he has received a good response and has talked with a number of people on both sides of the fence. Poling added he will take those opinions with him in hopes of providing a voice to the people while staying open to the project.
"I've pledged to the Mayor and the Airport Board that I'm coming with an open mind. I have concerns, however, and those are for the people," Poling said.
Both Wenning and Poling said they will be filled with questions Monday and hope the exchange between the boards is open and productive.
"It's going to be an informative meeting, if we get everything out into the open," Wenning said.
