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Intelligent remarks about airport
To the Editor:
At last, some intelligent remarks about the Jackson County Airport, thanks to William Austin. His was one of the clearest, factually-based expositions on what, one would gather for some members of the Jackson County community, to be an albatross. Whatever the history of the airport, it is now a very important asset to this county, perhaps more in its potential than what it has provided to date.
Frankly, I am dismayed at the fiasco that has been perpetrated by our county commissioners and our state senator and representative. They have done a disservice to this county on this issue for at least the second time. The last time was the library decision. More on that later, perhaps.
Suffice it to say that I would find it difficult to believe anything they say about this matter now ... or about any other matter of importance.
I have based my opinions on the airport mostly on the reporting in The Sylva Herald. From what I have read, there has been little or no attempt on the part of the commissioners to get the facts based on the most recent data available. It sounds to me like “Don’t bother us with the facts, we’ve already made up our mind.” As it was reported, they used an outdated study to further their cause and made no attempt to talk with members of the Airport Authority about recent studies, plans, and commitments for financing before taking actions that have delayed or stopped progress toward realizing the airport’s potential. Frankly, it appears that the commissioners acted out of spite ... for someone.
No, they stepped forward and handed Macon County the whole cake, iced, and with candles lit. Suppose the airport in Macon County is expanded and the Jackson County Airport is allowed to die. Where do you think economic development is going to take place? Jackson County will continue to get jobs on the low end of the pay scale.
Most importantly, consider what effect the demise of the Jackson County Airport would have on the development of the Millennium Campus that Western Carolina University has gone to great lengths to acquire and plan for. Have the county commissioners talked to Chancellor (John) Bardo about that and the impact of their actions on the probability of its success? I’ve seen nothing in The Sylva Herald that would lead me to believe so.
Or perhaps that is not important to the future of this county. Certainly some have expressed criticism that WCU should dare change the status quo. Where have they been when for the last 20 years the chancellors of WCU have indicated they were trying to bring some new businesses to the county so that there would be new opportunities for ambitious young people who would like to continue living here ... if they could only find suitable employment opportunities.
I’ve got bad news and good news for you. The “bad” news is that Jackson County has been discovered and change is going to happen. The good news is that we have the opportunity to affect how this is going to happen. We can ignore it, but it won’t go away. Or we can plan for it and keep it from ruining our part of heaven. I believe the Airport Authority members were doing a good job of moving in that direction. I know the three remaining members well enough to believe they are honest folks trying to do things that are in the best interests of Jackson County and its citizens.
A first step for county commissioners should be to get the action taken under H.B. 1051 reversed and encourage the Airport Authority to make the best of a messed-up situation. The next step should be to try to figure out why the proposed expansion to the Macon County airport is necessary anyway.
I do not fly. I wish I did. I hope that our “jewel in the mountains” is not lost due to the actions of a dysfunctional Jackson County Board of Commissioners.
Fran Webster
Sylva
Three people shouldn’t control airport’s future
To the Editor:
The Jackson County saga continues with much public posturing by the only Airport Authority members left: Tom McClure, Jim Rowell and Eldridge Painter. The other members withdrew in disgust after a lawsuit against the county was instituted by these parties.
The county intervened, improperly, it is stated, in the interest of Jackson County taxpayers. And not just because of Mr. McClure’s connection to the Economic Development Commission. The type of management on public record for the EDC has been well covered by The Sylva Herald. There is an impending legal action over the management issues involving loans, especially the one that is more than $565,000. This should clarify to the public that the airport issues are totally separate from the EDC issue and will be tried – hopefully in the near future. The Airport Authority suit is scheduled (first time on the court docket) for Oct. 31.
Under the Freedom of Information Act material that I have acquired since August 2004 and wrote letters about, the evidence of poor management and authoritarian rule by McClure, Rowell and Painter seems evident. Commissioner Eddie Madden made this public statement regarding his experience with the Airport Authority.
“I never knew what was going on; I was told what was supposed to be the situation.”
Others have expressed the same complaints that are part of the Airport users.
Airport Authority members have stated to people who use the airport (I was informed of this): “We own the airport.”
Mr. McClure has stated (The Sylva Herald) that the airport “is like a municipality.”
The charter for the airport grants certain rights similar to a municipality, but the authority does not own it as a private kingdom where anything and everything goes. That includes breaking rules, regulations, etc. During the recent lawsuit against Jackson County by McClure, Rowell and Painter, Judge Ronald Payne posed this query to them.
“Do you mean to tell me that Jackson County has no oversight when you use public funds coming from Jackson County?”
Judge Payne seemed to have some doubt about the ownership/private kingdom theory. For the 2004 fiscal year a contingency airport line item of $83,572 was in Jackson County’s budget. The legal fees for this little lawsuit cost the county $875. With the trial set for Oct. 31, perhaps the county attorney will be collecting some of his fees from the Authority members’ private funds.
McClure, Rowell and Painter seem to have instituted a strong public relations campaign to make Sen. John Snow and Rep. Phil Haire the villains of the “Airport Saga.” McClure and Rowell are leading the charge with many public statements of injured innocence (Oh! How could they do that?). Pilots that are writing and defending their turf with everything they can think of, including money in the merchants pockets to homeland security. Now we are told a landslide that took out 500 feet of old runway didn’t happen. We are also told that Sen. Snow arbitrarily stopped airport construction. You can be sure he has the backing of the county and the taxpayers in what he does. To let three people (not even a full board) make decisions in the millions of dollars is ridiculous. Only in a dictatorship would this happen that you could use public money in such an unthinking way.
Sen. Snow and Rep. Haire are well versed in the law, the history of the airport and county politics, and are, by training, analytical thinkers. They have moved to prevent three people from impacting this county for years to come. These people plan to continue their power by forcing the Jackson County commissioners to select only people for the Airport Authority from their selected list. The Airport Authority charter grants them that right.
Authority Chairman McClure is seeking a meeting with Commissioners’ Chairman Brian McMahan. If I had to guess the meeting agenda, I would say it’s “Cut a deal” if possible; no lawsuit; convince McMahan to support the airport and rake in the taxpayers’ money. With a lawsuit pending in October, a joint airport venture with Macon County, which is a much better facility on the drawing board, would a deal be wise?
The Authority charter states if the airport ceases operation for any reason, the title to real or personal property rights under any existing lease shall revert to vest in the County of Jackson.
Marie Leatherwood
Sylva
McCain/Biden could be a winning ticket
To the Editor:
If you’re weary of the ever-increasing divisiveness in the United States of America, please consider encouraging Senators John McCain (Arizona, R) and Joe Biden (Delaware, D) to run together as independents in the next presidential race.
The two men have worked well together for many years in the Senate on all sorts of issues. Both are intelligent men of integrity, common sense, tolerance and diplomacy. Both are capable of setting aside party alignments for the greater good of the country. Both could mend America’s image abroad.
If you want to encourage McCain and Biden to run together, please contact them at:
Sen. John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2235
Sen. Joseph Biden
201 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5042
Mary Joyce
Sylva
Airport should be allowed to proceed with hangars
To the Editor:
The Jackson County Airport runway is the same length and in better condition today than it was 10 years ago when I first landed on it. It has been stabilized for 20 years and has not and is not falling down the mountain. In fact, according to Bill Williams of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division, “since the last resurfacing of the runway it probably can handle heavier aircraft than when it was first built.”
Here are examples of (the airport’s) benefits to the citizens of Jackson County.
Pilots as well as the local community could attend pancake breakfasts and airport events. There is an event scheduled with members from the Asheville and Macon County Experimental Aircraft Association flying in with approximately 20 aircraft on Sept. 24 for Mountain Heritage Day. Some of them are camping under their aircraft. Pilots always like to talk about flying and have a chance to show off their homebuilt/experimental aircraft to the public.
Children/young adults could benefit from exposure to the world of aviation. There are chapters of the “Young Eagles” where they are given an educational explanation of aerodynamics and taken on plane rides for free. Who knows if this might lead them to a career in aviation? EAA members want to make this available during their fly-in.
The Federal Aviation Administration and NASA are embarking on the Small Airport Transportation System program, where smaller aircraft can be scheduled to help fill the void that major carriers left. With the Wide Area Augmentation Service now in place, general aviation aircraft with certified Global Propositioning Service receivers will be able to land here during inclement weather. This will expand the operational capability of the airport. According to Bill Williams of DOT, the GPS. instrument approach for the Jackson County Airport will be published within eight to 10 months. The Jackson County Airport has a unique advantage over the Macon County Airport in that Jackson County’s elevation at 2,844 feet has less fog than the Macon County Airport in a valley at 2,020 feet.
Here are examples of other potential revenue sources.
I spoke with a flight instructor living in Cullowhee. He has a mobile operation trailer with radio and could operate a Federal Air Regulation part 63 operation. He also has a contact with an existing FAR part 141 school that would be willing to run a satellite operation at the Jackson County Airport. There is a large untapped pool of students at Western Carolina University. Southwestern Community College could develop an aviation career program within its student population. If the new terminal area was built, rents could be collected from the office and from tied-down or hangared flight instruction aircraft. Monies would also be realized from the purchase of fuel consumed during all the instruction/solo hours flown.
I have spoken to a local restauranteur. He said he has always liked the spectacular view at the airport. He would be willing to make additional specialty sandwiches and pastries for a small café at the airport that could also include sale of local newspapers, cameras, film, tourist information, handling a rental car service etc. For now he is offering to give a buy one, get one free meal when a fuel receipt from the airport is presented at his restaurant.
Local cab and car rental companies could benefit by serving the transportation needs of the pilots and their families flying in.
The new sport pilot license and its class of aircraft requires less hours for its license than a full pilot’s license. Ultra-light aircraft don’t require a license or medical exam. These are less expensive forms of aviation that could be promoted.
If the JCAA would be allowed to revive most elements of the preceding three years work and have the hangars built, it would bring in at least $48,000 a year from rent. After debt service it would leave $25,000 a year for further airport improvements.
This could finally lead to making the airport self sufficient.
Finally, with hurricanes stronger and occurring more frequently, what if some form of natural disaster or terrorism happened in the region? With only five airports in the region, wouldn’t it be a good thing to have the capability in your own backyard of an airport to support an operation that impacted you, your family or your friends and neighbors in surrounding communities during a time of need?
William Austin
Sylva
High school athletics are for high school students
To the Editor:
I read Carey Phillips’ article on Smoky Mountain High School’s realignment to the 2A Western Athletic Conference in the Aug. 4 edition of The Sylva Herald. I tend to agree with his last statement: “If things break right, there could even be a state championship or two on the horizon.” The question, however, is when?
My oldest son will be a freshman at SMHS this fall and, although he could play JV football, he is still undecided. He is trying to decide if playing against seventh- and eighth-graders and outside the WAC will be beneficial to him. JV football should be a privilege still reserved for high school freshmen and sophomores. The schedule looks as if SMHS will be the only WAC team playing this schedule and, although it allows these young men an opportunity to play, is it preparing them for play in the WAC?
Just because SMHS is now playing a 2A schedule doesn’t guarantee victories or weaker competition. Remember, 1A schools have beaten both our football team and men’s basketball teams as recently as last year.
I also have an 11-year old son and, based on his team’s past athletic performances, state championships almost seem imminent. The rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade classes have many talented athletes that have been playing organized sports together since they were 6 or 7 years old. Most of these young men are multi-sport athletes that are used to winning. My son has been fortunate enough to never have a losing season and has played on championship football, basketball and baseball teams.
So yes, the talent and the desire to win it all is there. Once you become accustomed to winning, you won’t accept less. I would hate for my son’s only chance to play for a state championship to come only once as an 11-year-old; somehow that doesn’t seem right.
Not only do I want the best for my children academically, but athletically as well. I will be following SMHS athletics closely this year watching to see if moving from 3A to 2A helped them, or if things remain the same.
Gretta Rosbor
Sylva
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