Creswell Airport Oregon
Sunday, May 20, 2012
NEWS FLASH,
Our Mayor Talking with Lars Larson
Those who spoke were impressive and passionate with their feelings on the airport. At least half suggested the city try to work it out with the skydiving company, "sit down and talk like adults" one man suggested.
City Administrator Mark Shrives gave the impression there was nothing they could do at this point, because of the Part 16 complaint filed by Urban Moore of Eugene Skydivers. You would think common sense would dictate if the city sat down with Mr. Moore and worked out a safety plan and other operational concerns, it would just be a matter of Mr. Moore withdrawing his Part 16 complaint.
One councilor, Jack Gradle, said Mr. Moore refused to sit down and discuss the city's concerns. According to Mr. Moore, that is totally untrue, in-fact, Mr. Moore said, " We spent from Aug 2006 trying to do just that. If you read the complaint you will see where we have tried over and over to talk to the city. That is what the informal Part 13 is all about."
After the public forum was over, Mayor Hooker made a motion to allot another $100,000 for attorney's fees to fight Mr. Moore's Part 16 complaint. Of course the same councilors, Jean McKittrick, Mike Anderson and Jack Gradle couldn't wait to raise their hands to once again go along with this mayor. (none have airport experience) Jane Vincent and A J O'Connell were the dissenting votes. In-fact, Councilor O'Connell gave very compelling reasons why the city should try to work this out and save taxpayer's money.
From all indications, there is no way the city can close the airport, high priced attorney's or not. Evidently, when the city accepted federal funding, they agreed to keep the airport open for a period of time, most say twenty years. There is a huge possibility the city will not only lose the legal battle and taxpayer's money, they will still be forced to keep the airport open. That possibility could go in many directions. The city could continue to take money from the general fund, lease it out to someone with the experience to manage it, or let the State of Oregon manage it as they do so well at some 28 state airports.
All in all, there is no excuse for the outcome of the special meeting. Once again, this Mayor and council did not listen to the people who cared enough to share their feelings and were willing to speak up. One person mentioned the city once hired Jim Johnson to do a survey on how other Oregon Airports are managed. The fact is, if this city once again hired Mr. Johnson instead of out of town attorney's, this problem could be resolved. Mr. Johnson is a very knowledgeable and reasonable man, he could fix this problem and save the City of Creswell a great deal of money and frustration.
On another premise, one would think a city administrator and airport manager that is costing the taxpayers over $225,000 per year, with the help of the city's attorney, could answer the FAA's letter. Just be honest and explain their position. Did they really need an attorney for that?
PAST NEWS
CITY OF CRESWELL. The Creswell City Council plans to review its commitment to maintaining airport services at a special city council meeting on Tuesday, February 14. Interested parties are encouraged to attend and provide comments.
The Council agenda includes a discussion of the risks and benefits of closing the airport. This evaluation is necessary due to the very high anticipated cost to defend a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) complaint filed by Mr. Urban Moore, owner of Eugene Skydivers.
The special City Council meeting will begin at 5:00 pm. The council will immediately enter into Executive Session under ORS 192.660 (2)(h) To consult with council concerning the legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation of litigation likely to be filed. The public portion of the meeting will be reconvened at approximately 6:30 pm to take public comment regarding the future of the Creswell Airport.
Here is what the FAA has to say, published 05/18/2004 04:30 PM –Updated 05/19/2010 05:08 PM
HOW DO I CLOSE AN AIRPORT?
To close an airport, you must submit FAA Form 7480-1 Notice of Landing Area Proposal to the FAA Airport district or regional office in your area. Airport owners who have received FEDERAL financial assistance or have received FEDERAL land are obligated to continue to operate the facility as an airport for a set amount of time or in perpetuity. If an obligation is current and ongoing, the owner cannot close the airport. Any owners considering a request to FAA for special permission to close a federally-obligated airport should contact the FAA Airports district or regional offices to determine the status of their FEDERAL obligation before closing an airport. The FAA only considers closing federally-obligated airports under very rare circumstances, such as the construction of a suitable replacement airport that enhances aviation utility or safety.
PAST NEWS
Evidently, Creswell Airport is coming up with a "New" marketing plan. Hopefully, it will be more effective than the old "Bait and Switch" program the City has implemented in the past.
The old plan encouraged individuals to go into business at the Creswell Airport by building hangars which were then "donated" to the City and in turn the City would lease the hangar back for a period of twenty years with two ten year options. The Wright Brother's Skydiving business did just that. They built a hangar for $160,000, donated it to the City and after fifteen years of conducting a successful operation, the Airport management convinced the City that skydiving was no longer safe at the Creswell Airport. Wright Brother's shut their hangar door and could no longer meet their monthly lease payment, which prompted the City to go to court and confiscate the hangar. The City may have gained a hangar, but they lost out on thousands of dollars in fuel revenue.
As a fair and equitable solution, one might think the City could have sold the rights to the hangar for $160,000, taken what was owed them, approximately $5.000, and given the Wright Brothers the remainder of their investment. Not the City of Creswell, they made a good profit for the City and the Airport.
In another scenario at the Creswell Airport, the City permitted a retired couple to have access to the airport for an annual fee of $25. They built their dream home and hangar and within a few years the fee was raised to $185. per year. A reasonable fee, as the State charges this fee at one of their finest community airports. But once again the fee was raised to $740. per year, an increase of 2,860 percent. The couple are on a fixed income and this has put a strain on their finances. The City once again benefits from this endeavor through the increased revenue and the property taxes this home owner pays to benefit the Creswell schools, fire district, library and Sheriffs department, another Bait and Switch.
It should be mentioned, the other skydiving operation, Eugene Skydivers, is still operating but under restricted rules. Student jumpers are not permitted as they are now landing on a farmers field north of the airport. Only jumps with an instructor are permitted, which means far less fuel is purchased. They are doing their best to stay in business, and hold onto to their hangar, or as it is, the lease.
Creswell Airport is probably one of the finest airports in the Sate of Oregon and has great potential. At present, anyone thinking of doing business on this airport, might want to give it a great deal more thought.
When and if things change, we will proudly promote this airport.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."
-Dale Carnegie
We don't know how to manage it, so let's sell it. I think it was Albert Einstein who said, ''insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.'' While there was a city council at one time who realized that this airport needed some outside advice, this more recent council would rather throw in the towel. Sadly, these well meaning, (maybe naive would be a better description) councilors most likely are unaware of a far reaching agenda for the airport property. That previous council I speak of, paid Mr. Jim Johnson $6,800 to do a survey on how other airports in the state were being managed. Mr. Johnson did a very comprehensive report that was somehow put aside and again, they just continued to manage the same old way with the same old results. For example, the airport commission has spent the last five years making up rules and regulations, not promoting or improving the airport, just the same old rules and regulations that are mostly covered in the FAR's (Federal Air Regulations). The rest of the so called airport rules are covered by Federal, State and City laws. It's been one big waste of time. We should also mention, the airport commission has gone through a number of commissioners over this period of time. Moving on with Mr. Johnson's recommendations, he suggested that the position of airport manager be put out as an RFP, Request for Proposals. Since the last two airport managers were paid $18,000 per year with no benefits, it should not be that difficult to find someone willing to work for a great deal less than the $90,000 it's now costing for a manager. By the way, the other two managers had to fuel each and every airplane, something no longer needed because of self serve fuel. Jim also reported that he felt the skydiving business could have been a managed risk, as is flying airplanes. The city was making a great deal from fuel sales because of those skydiving businesses. There is only one of those businesses left on the field and with the many restrictions put on him, he buys very little fuel. This airport, if managed properly, could be a huge asset to this community as is the Independence Airport for the city of Independence. It was sad to see councilors who have little or no business background making these kinds of decisions. This community can only hope there is a higher power that will make some sense out of this poorly run airport and turn it around for the sake of the city, or maybe it will become one large housing development or a strip mall.
AIRPORT FOR SALE??
Creswell's position on skydiving questioned
A report says the risk posed by allowing skydiving at the city's airport is manageable
By Karen McCowan The Register-Guard
CRESWELL - A new consultant's report questions the city's position that skydiving poses unacceptable risks at Creswell Airport. It also urges the City Council to set clearer airport policies and hold the city administrator and airport manager accountable for improving relationships with unhappy airport users.Council members received copies of the report last week from Jim Johnson, a former acting Creswell city administrator. They hired Johnson to advise them on airport issues, including tensions between airport manager Shelley Humble and some airport users, including Eugene Skydivers and Wright Brothers Skydiving.
The rival companies in 2006 lost their long-standing right to land customers in a "drop zone" on Hobby Field east of the runway and on nearby state-owned land. Both city and state officials cited liability concerns following complaints by some pilots that the skydiving operations posed a safety hazard at the airfield.
Bringing back skydiving would increase risks to general aviation at Hobby Field, consultant Johnson acknowledged in his report to the council. But he called such risks "manageable" if the city works with skydiving operators to craft a safety plan and the operators abide by its terms. Eugene Skydivers owner Urban Moore and Wright Brothers owner David Wright said they were pleased with Johnson's recommendation that the city revisit the skydiving issue, but had only guarded hopes that things will change.
"We have asked the city three other times since we've been off the airport to negotiate with us or at least to open up the communication lines so we can develop some kind of process," said Moore. He won county permission in 2007 to land skydivers on a farmer's field several miles north of the airport, but the arrangement increases both overhead costs and his turnaround time between jumps. "I'm going to be out of business shortly," Moore said. "This has knocked my business down by better than 60 percent."
Wright said the city's action has already "pretty well destroyed" his 18-year business at the airfield. He stopped scheduling jumps last summer after the county denied his application to drop skydivers on a farmer's field just off the airport. The city urged the county to deny his proposal, again citing safety concerns.
Wright expressed hope that Johnson's report might end a Catch-22 situation in which city officials say they cannot sign a new safety agreement with the skydiving companies because of Federal Aviation Administration safety concerns, while the FAA based its safety concerns on the lack of a signed safety agreement.
In his report, Johnson also calls on the city administrator to draft "measurable goals" for Humble that include "rebuilding and managing in a positive manner" relationships with users who've long complained she plays favorites. The administrator should "personally assist" Humble and closely monitor her progress, Johnson said, adding: "If relationships do not improve, then the administrator should use the powers of his office to make appropriate changes."
Johnson also urged the city to draw up a contract that delineates Humble's dealings with her husband, who runs a private aviation business on the airport, citing "the appearance of a conflict of interest." "The agreement would ensure that no real conflict arises," wrote Johnson. An independent fact-finder hired by the city in 2006 found no evidence of Humble using her city office to benefit her husband's business. She has managed the airport since Creswell purchased it from private owners in 2000. Humble declined comment, saying acting city administrator Jamon Kent had advised her to wait until the council takes up the report, which it is scheduled to discuss March 10.
At least one councilor, David Case, plans to respond to the report at tonight's council meeting. The report also includes a summary of a Jan. 22 town hall meeting on airport issues that drew 60 people. Of 24 people who testified, a majority seemed to support Humble, Johnson said, but others were sharply critical of her leadership style.