HomeMy WebLinkAbout921298.tiff December 4, 1992
TO: The Greeley City Council
The Weld County Commissioners
The Greeley/Weld Co. Airport Authority
TO
Due to an apparent lack of opportunity for public input on the
major change in the make-up of the Greeley-Weld County airport board
as brought forward by the county commissioners recently, we, the under-
signed, as users of the airport, feel it necessary to bring forth
several of our objections to this change.
It seems that one of the county' s main objections was the lack
of progress on a new "compromise" master plan for the airport. In
defense of the present board, no action was taken because no new
plan had been brought forth by the airport manager or airport eng-
ineers for them to act upon. In fact, no one on the board was even
privy to the nature of the new plan, and inquiries to the manager
were rebuffed by him saying that "nothing was ready yet" . So the
present board cannot be blamed for that--but look to the manager and
airport engineer if dissatisfied with that item. With the state of
the economy and the decline in airport activity, it may well be a
good thing that nothing was done, or that was done in haste without
opportunity for major public input on that controversial subject.
Secondly, we do not agree with reducing the public and airport
users representation on the board from five to one--and particularly
without an opportunity for a public hearing on the matter. Since the'
City and the County hayed funded only matching money for federal and
state grants, it follows that all other activities are funded by the
users of the airport--and they should have a major voice in how these
monies are spent--otherwise the phrase "taxation without represent-
ation" comes to mind.
Further, we cannot visualize four council members and commission-
ers being that interested in supervising the day to day operations
and problems that might arise--but surely the users are so interested,
and the airport operators particularly so as these decisions can
affect their very livlihood. The inference that staff members of the
Greeley Council or Weld County Commissioners could "sit-in" for
regular members that might not be able to attend meetings is not
acceptable in that we could be governed by decisions made by those
who are not responsive to the voters or the users in that case.
In conclusion--there is nothing wrong at all with the present
format of the airport authority, and with fair and impartial appoint-
ments by the city and county to ensure that all interests are rep-
resented, the board could function in a much fairer and open manner
than that suggested by the new plan. No one expects that the board
will always agree on all matters all the time--if so, no board would
ever be needed. Discussion and/or dissension are needed in a
democratic society and generally work for the best, if not always in
the speediest fashion.
921296
ibck )1/ X1,%17 r..
p. 2, City Council, County Commissioners, Airport Authority
So, let us just continue the present format, Council and
Commisioners to go ahead and appoint neededreplacements and let
them get on with the business of supervising the Greeley-Weld
County airport without the turmoil, confusion, and suspicions
that would be created by the newly suggested format of the board.
When or if a new master plan is presented, the full Council
and Board of Commissioners will have their say anyway when funding
requests are made and surely further public hearings would be held
on this possible controversial issue. Meanwhile, let the airport
board continue to govern on the daily operation and maintenance of
the airport. As a further suggestion, let the commissioners and
council members urge their own, and appointed members of the board,
to be more faithful in attendance at board meetings than has been
the case in many instances, and to keep the council and commissioners
promptly advised of matters that may be of concern to the full
Membership.
W c . Fin nnethvAaz
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LeceM'1 r 7, 1992
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. As an appointed mc.,,,mbt":nr• of.:! h'c ait kn-t authority board . I wish
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Y 'to take offense to the statements that have been made about our -
':. ,actions over the past ft�lo ,lap r'5_,apc . ,ra.grar•:i 1y the past year.
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.7. • , ; :' . With outstanding guidance ov'e p. the past years from the
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:, authority board as it i':=: now :-f'uetured this public owned airport
;`t • ' ' has been able to maintain _: I4?1f.. ;upp`ortinca status . Something a
. :. lot of other public owned ent : i.es::: have not been able to do .
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..... airport 1 x ' _]'
• �. I1 was the best year to r:l ..!�. the has experienced , and
i 1992 will far surpass s 1991 , so I feel with(h that type of •financial.
showing ( I would invite you to check these records for yourself )
; ,=,. the presentbt:and hasiio ne a good Job setting policies and seeing
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them established .
c4-• A,F As for the statement made b,,; some elected officials r€.eently
ii r,''' • '.�''. .,, that the present board has not accomplished anything in the past
G,: ,' , year I would like to point out: a few thing's I consider
-L.1-H .- accomplishments.
.. .4v.', I . Completed and signed a lease on the :airport farm.
(_this '-save the airport the safety and "security of a
_ . lease. )
ff;": I I . Made necessary arr`;rr t Y F
e: arrangements repair the abandoned
0`.'' . . :Y irrigation well .
(This will increase farm lease by $2000.00 per year)
1 : III . Negotiated with the farmer to pay for !-ditch assessments.
(This will save the irrigation water rights to the farm)
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IV. Sold o f .the t:r'op`:i fT':,]•f •':ne past years the airport owned
' • . ... .
( income rlc:c;rrle that had not he. !.-:..r.l. ].e:::[: '•.:c_,rl }
. Arranged to remove !:..i::; .`:• and equipment from hangers
,• i l••'. , !; s: aircraft.
.. a n� replaced r r.,��,�� items i•:��n'1_i with t I'-I
,r:......iis.
` :;i' ; (Th i.s is more revenuej o cover expenses, so far'
5': ,! • approximately $1000.0C! per month up from a minus due to
of the Y afore mentioned )
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,. .s . !. the heat bill 'r ca r• some h,:: hangers n_,�e.r'• VI . Purchased the ft.te_1 trucks in leu of leasing . Leasing that
was highly recommended by the Weld County Commissioner 4
years at_)o.
• ( This will bring a savings of approximately
�,;r $47,000,00 over the next 4 years)
VII . Requested the State Highway Dept . to clean up the property
they were leasing before they moved out .
(This will prevent a possible b] a E .P.A. suit against
� -• - a�.i rest the
airport , plus i '., will •::. ...,..:iiH :.y make the property and
J � for p(:: 3 equipment
L;t..!a. ].d i rtes a�-t; ,. l<:t 1,1.[::: .,r:,.:_.
airport T"• t"'l: maintenance F'f�h E.l..l:;.i t i...!::.
instead of storing th'i equipment in hangers that
should and will be t..t°: !:='d for aircraft , this will again
increases airport revenue. )
VIII . Through tt .r efforts members of the and were able to
get a picinic pavilion constructed free of charge at the
• airport
(With the magnificent support of the Experimental Aircraft -
Association and the Rocky Mountian Sport Aviation
Committee, this pis-in:l.:: pavilion and the new welcome
attitude of the staff .t the airport . Greeley is now
considered the h ::;me _.' :: of sport aviation in the
Rocky Mounti.an Region. This has increased the number of
Homebt"ti ]. t; Aircraft nr:w.1 besed permanently at the
Greeley/Weld Airport .I..o 15 and they all rent hangers. )
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IX. We sold off a run down hail shed that was a real eye sore
for $1500.00 .
It has been renovated to one of the best looking
buildings on our airport . )
X. Replaced the phone system to a more secure system.
(Which cut the phone bill considerably)
XI . Eliminated Pay Phones that cost: $60.00 each per month ,
i _ plus a gas advertising sign that came along with the fuel
trucks lease at an additiona]. $25 .00 a month .
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XII .I „ Made sure they P .U .D . zoning was completed
(So the airport ea;i now move on with future development )
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X I I I . Hirec:l a developmnt eonsultant Mr. ..Y':.t{=F? LuedeTlafl.
brought: .t .. ...u:...
(1')rl_1(.''r_' _ :s •'Lt.l!_Jer of good leads of businesses
looking at Gr^e€••....:'•':.' .:1 :.. future location. Some of which are
still a possihly
IXX The Board appressee ::3''l Bruce was able to obtain a
$31 ,000.00 rant from the state to repair taxiway and
ramps come this spring .
XX . Approved and were su cessful in negotiating with Tinton
and Associates to build their hanger at Greeley/Weld
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Airport .
XXI . Approved and oversaw the construction of the restaurant
expansion at the airport .
(This will be a great improvement and drawing card for the
airport ) .
XXT T ,. Approved the clean up of the long term parking at the
airport .
(An improvement long overdue . )
XXIII . Approved many improvements such as sprinkling systems and
crass planting to improve the appearance of th airport .
1.YeX
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