Jim Cummings
To say the airport is a hot button topic and the mere mention of the word can draw a crowd is an understatement. Monday’s City Council proved that.
The meeting room at the courthouse was so full, residents started pulling in chairs from everywhere in the building. It got so crowded, Greensburg Fire Chief Scott Chasteen made them stop because he said it created a hazard. This left a standing-room-only crowd of more than 75 people.
Greensburg Decatur County Board of Airport Commissioner (GDCABC) president Bryan Messer came to the Council members with a plea. He, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), wanted to know what was going on with the project.
“Gary Regan, your FAA program manger is in need of some written notification of action or a monetary drawdown on the subject grant immediately or he will be forced to unilaterally close the grant,” Messer read aloud an e-mail he received from Butler, Fairman and Seufert who is working with the Board to make airport expansion a reality.
This type of ultimatum got the members to all come out in favor of the project.
“I’m inclined to say we have to pursue this,” said Glenn Tebbe. “Yes, we are sincerely interested. I’m satisfied this needs to be pursued with all deliberate intent.”
Larry Bower said he had minor concerns about the location of the airport and whether the city can go ahead without a county buy-in but he was overall in favor of proceeding.
“None of these concerns would keep me from saying ‘Let’s go ahead’,” he said. “The concerns are something we can work through.”
Gary Herbert continued with the consensus.
“There may be some cost to the taxpayers but it’s a heck of a deal financially,” he said. “A modern airport is essential to a community. I don’t want to give up on this.”
Ken Dornich made it unanimous with his overviews earlier in the meeting. Helen Gardner unable to attend the meeting.
“We have people working hard on economic development and to not have a viable airport sends a negative message to prospective employers,” Dornich said. “I’d ask the Mayor to send Gary Regan a letter saying we’re still interested. We have a tremendous opportunity to upgrade the airport and improve the image of Greensburg as a progressive community.”
That’s exactly what the members voted to do, Manus will notify the FAA the city is still pushing toward upgrading or moving the airport. By staying in the program the FAA will pay for 95 percent of the construction and other costs and the state will pick up another 2 1/2 percent of the estimated $6 million project.
Just which option to go with was not voted upon although it appeared the members were leaning toward keeping it where it is and expanding. This didn’t make the nearby property owners happy.
“There’s a lot your not being told,” said Marc Haston. “If you get too deep into this you will just end up raising taxes and raising taxes.”
Haston said he felt the airport couldn’t sustain itself financially but information provided to the Council members said it could be economically viable on its own.
“The FAA guaranteed me the budget will not exceed $50,000 to maintain a 4,000-foot runway,” Messer said. “Right now we’re paying $20,000.”
The plan is, hangar rental and other fees can make up the difference.
Janet Chadwell, of the Decatur County Auditor’s office, felt the taxpayers couldn’t take the chance of an added burden.
“The working people are the one’s who will have to pay for this airport,” she said. “They can’t afford it. We had 400 properties sold this year in tax sales. The county will lose $103 million in assessed value next year and $47 million will be in Greensburg. The state keeps pulling back the money they give us so the funds will have to come from some place.”
Messer had an answer for that.
“Isn’t the airport all about economic development?” he said. “With 97 1/2 percent funding we can do this for only $130,000. Economic development figures show you get back $38 for every dollar invested.”
The debate continued on until Manus decided enough was enough. Still, many opponents of the airport stood outside the courthouse planning when they will next meet. It most likely will be at the next GDCABC meeting.
“We meet the third Monday of every month,” Messer said. “I give you all an open invitation to attend and ask questions.”
While none of the other topics on the agenda were as widespread polarizing, one issue did start quite a commotion.
In a previous meeting, the Council passed a no parking ordinance in cul-de-sacs in the Sunset Acres development. Michael Williams came to ask the Council to rescind the ordinance.
After hearing from both sides, the Council agreed to look further into the matter. That, however, didn’t cool any of the bad blood over the things said during the meeting. Both sides of the argument stood outside the meeting room and shouted at each other until Greensburg Police Chief Bill Meyerrose and Chasteen went out to break things up.
Other topics included; $50,000 funding for the Economic Development Corporation, a switch in health insurance carriers for city employees which is promised to keep the same standard of care with no increased premiums and the budget presentation of the Heart of the Tree City.
The Council next meets at 6 p.m. in the courthouse on January 3.
