20070610 The Carroll County Regional Airport decision

The Carroll County Regional Airport decision

Sunday, June 10^th, 2007

First of all - the extraordinary level of the acrimonious debate that has swirled around this decision since the days of last fall’s county commissioner election campaign initially took many of us by surprise – and has only grown to a level beyond unfortunate.

The most recent discussions about expanding the airport began around December 2003 and some suggest that it was really in the late 1990s that the idea began to circle the runway.

By critical analysis the county commissioners have been open and forthcoming in developing the criteria in order to make a decision and folks who have only recently discovered the impending decision and are suggesting some grand conspiracy bankrupt their credibility.

With only 11.6 percent commercial and industrial tax base; the fact that residential property taxes will never maintain enough revenue to fund the increased demands for county government services has been discussed for the last 15 to 20 years.

Expanding the economic development opportunities afforded by expanding the capacity and attractiveness of the airport was essentially a no-brainer for those looking at the big picture.

The one fly in the ointment is the recent residential development in close proximity of the airport in recent decades.

In spite of the fact that folklore has an airport in that location since the 1920s and that a more organized airport structure was dedicated on June 5^th, 1943; folks nevertheless opted to purchase homes near the airport. Most folks adopted a live and let live approach to having an airport in the neighborhood for decades - - then came the houses and a totally new approach.

The fact that many of us have questioned allowing the close proximity of housing developments to the airport is now moot. The facts on the ground are that the houses are there.

And any future expansion of the airport must take into consideration the safety and enjoyment of the folks who live near the airport.

Many feel that can be accomplished – perhaps by working together and maybe even being creative.

Certainly the suggestion of forming a Citizens Advisory Council is good beginning.

Another idea may very well be to grant property tax credits in the airport’s immediate zone of influence. Ultimately some of the houses may need to be purchased by the county as they come on the market.

And finally a large area surrounding the airport must be zoned in a manner that only facilitates business, commercial and industrial use and no more residential housing.

Other ideas must be considered by perhaps a Citizens Advisory Council and meaningful dialogue with the groups that have formed in opposition to the expansion.

The one challenge at present is that many of the folks who are opposed to the expansion of the airport have not been overly friendly about their opposition and a breakdown in trust has occurred in their discussions with the commissioners and county staff.

To be certain the reservations expressed by many of the airport neighbors should be taken into consideration with any future airport expansion plans.

What needs to be taken into consideration are the real impacts and not the uber-exaggerated “sky is falling” and the "end of civilization as we know it" fears that have been expressed as the decision has drawn near. Ultimately that has been a disservice to everyone involved.

It is always a matter of curiosity for those of us who have served in public office as to why folks who wish to promote an agenda feel that they can move the ball forward by being profoundly, if not unbearably unpleasant.

My ear to the ground indicates that even among some folks who have reservations about whether or not to expand the airport have been turned off by the opposition.

And that is not a good thing, as there are legitimate questions that should be answered in the long range planning of the airport, even among the many of us who feel that expanding the airport is good for the greatest number of Carroll countians and in the long run, good for the county.

Certainly the reservations of the neighbors are legitimate and need to be addressed as much as possible, but we would have all been better off without the personal attacks upon the decision makers – and their staff.

Nevertheless - - In the interest in creating additional community employment and tax base, the best decision for the greater portion of Carroll countians is to approve the expansion of the airport. Hopefully, later this morning, at the commissioners’ meeting today at 10 AM – the commissioners will agree.

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