Barrow BOC looks at straw vote on runway extension

Barrow Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Garrison told the group that he would ask his board at its upcoming March 11 meeting to endorse a straw vote on a runway extension to be put on the ballot in July.
The question would ask voters if they support a runway extension for “safety and enhanced economic opportunities as long as the airport or airport facilities are not utilized for cargo distribution and/or commercial passenger service.”
Although such a vote would be non-binding, Garrison said he and fellow commissioners want to get direction from the citizens of Barrow County on the issue.

MONDAY NIGHT
At Monday night’s meeting of the BOC and airport authority with area citizens on the airport issue, Garrison said that there are currently no plans to extend the runway at the airport.
Over 170 people both for and against the idea attended the meeting to ask questions and make comments regarding the proposed runway extension. Dozens of concerned citizens wore red to show solidarity in their opposition to any expansion or enhancements.
Among those questioning the county’s plans for the airport was Paul Nero of Concerned Citizens of Barrow County (CCBC), an activist group which has led the fight against a major airport expansion. Nero presented highlights from a feasibility study conducted by Williams Aviation Consultants. The study, which was commissioned by CCBC, concluded that Barrow’s airport is not in the position to attract scheduled passenger or cargo service “now or in the future.” The Williams Aviation report cited several reasons why the airport is ill suited for commercial traffic including an insufficient population base and its position relative to other regional airports.
Gail Nero, also with CCBC, called on commissioners to abandon plans to expand the airport and pass a binding resolution to that effect. Nero said plans for the airport expansion have been undertaken despite evidence that the project is not justified.
“Gentlemen, public perception is everything,” G. Nero said. “I submit to you that the secret meetings, insider land deals, conflict of interest among the board members, flagrant disregard for the Barrow charter which specifically states that Mr. Garrison is not to hold another job, biased reporting by the local newspaper, and false information submitted to the state government all serves to cast suspicion and mistrust on this administration.”
Airport authority member Don Holiday said the whole controversy has been created by those who assumed that talk by the Northeast Georgia Surface and Air Transportation Committee of a regional carrier airport referred to the Barrow County facility.
“We’ve not discussed runway extensions, we’ve not started any runway extensions,” he said. Any expansion would have to be funded by the FAA and they will not fund it unless the need is there, he said.
Throughout the nearly three hour meeting, Garrison sought to reassure concerned citizens that any runway extension would be for the sole purpose of providing a state of the art facility for general aviation users, not commercial transport or cargo operations.

SUPPORTS UPGRADES
While the majority of those in attendance voiced opposition and even outrage that the airport might be expanded, a less vocal component of the standing room only crowd expressed support.
Businessman Ed Larkin was among those in favor of the runway extension. Larkin encouraged the Board of Commissioners to finish the expansion as quickly as possible. Larkin, who flies over 350 hours a year, said he has been eagerly waiting for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) project to be completed and would like to see both runways eventually extended. Larkin said the lack of ILS has forced him to divert to other facilities during inclement weather, incurring additional business costs.
“I have been holding on living here, waiting for the ILS to go in. You’ve got to ask yourself after a while, after you’ve been forced to divert to Athens several times, ‘How long am I going to keep doing this before I move myself and my airplane somewhere that is more amenable to a small business?’,” he said.
Jessica Eversly said airport safety should be the primary concern in deciding on whether or not to extend the runway. Eversly recounted an incident where a plane crashed in her front yard killing the pilot. The crash could have been averted if the pilot had more runway, she said.
Eversly told board and authority members she thoroughly researched the area when she bought her property 11 years ago. Since then, Eversly said she has attended airport authority meetings and questioned why so many people were suddenly concerned about a project that has been on the drawing board for years.

QUESTIONS WEDNESDAY MEETING
Several citizens also questioned a meeting held last week between members of the BOC and airport authority. Garrison said that the meeting was neither secret nor illegal, and did not represent a meeting of the commission, the airport authority or any committee of the two groups. Garrison said the sole purpose of the meeting was to set the agenda for Monday’s meeting. Garrison took full responsibility for the decision to call the meeting.
“I wanted to have input on how to make this meeting good and beneficial for everybody here,” he said.
BOC members Jerry Lampp, Bill Brown, Billy Parks, Chairman Garrison and three airport authority members attended last Wednesday's meeting.
But commissioner Bill Healan questioned why all members of the BOC weren’t notified about the meeting.
Garrison said he did not mean to slight any commissioner when he invited only those whose districts would be most affected by activities concerning the airport and a third commissioner who had previously served on the airport authority.