St. Marys Airport 2

The election silly season is upon us and the whole airport relocation discussion is boiling again. Several candidates have taken positions in opposition to the move. Pro move candidates are being very quiet, possibly hoping they won't have to explain their position.

The Tribune & Georgian exposed an embarrassing error in a letter form the city to the FAA and the city was forced to write a retraction.

The St. Marys Earth Keepers adopted a well researched position paper environmentally opposing relocation at the proposed site on the Billyville Road in Woodbine.

It has been revealed that several environmental organizations also oppose the selected site and are ready to fight in the courts.

Local bloggers are vehemently both supporting and opposing the relocation. Citizens are pointing fingers at the politicians and the politicians are pointing right back.

Half truths and just plain untruths abound. According to some, airplanes are flying back and forth at low level over SUBASE almost daily. We continue to be told that the airport will be relocated at no cost, but no proof is offered.

Some dream of massive development at the old airport site. Others point to the hundreds of undeveloped acres around the airport and scoff.

At almost every city council meeting the airport question is raised and often the discussion degenerates into shouted accusations.

I moved the old airport discussion thread to the top so it would be more accessible and started this thread to keep discussions compact.

Lets talk airport. The question is critical to the future of our city and to the upcoming election.

Candidates will say what they think they people want to hear. I can't understand why anyone would want to keep the airport where it is. It doesn't do anything for St Marys. Very few people use it. Most have never been there. It cost money to maintain, that the city never got back. It isn't marketed properly to get people to use it. There aren't any ads to come fly to St Marys.

I understand that alot of folks do not want to spend money for a new airport outside of the city. I think that is the real debate. If you want a good airport that will grow and make some money, you have to build it. The old one will never be anything more than it is, it needs to close.

For too long people have been getting wrapped around the axle on this topic.

Tribune&Georgian - Wed. Dec. 8, 2004

"Final approval would be up the St. Marys city council since it owns the airport, said Hase, but nothing is guaranteed. "If we could keep the airport in St. Marys, then that is what the St. Marys city council would prefer to do..."

Oh what a difference a sweet deal with Sea Island made to Deb! Nothing like integrity in politics, is there?

Get a Clue. What do you get out of this? Everyone else gets a bill.

Get a clue wrote:

Candidates will say what they think they people want to hear. I can't understand why anyone would want to keep the airport where it is. It doesn't do anything for St Marys. Very few people use it. Most have never been there. It cost money to maintain, that the city never got back. It isn't marketed properly to get people to use it. There aren't any ads to come fly to St Marys.
I understand that alot of folks do not want to spend money for a new airport outside of the city. I think that is the real debate. If you want a good airport that will grow and make some money, you have to build it. The old one will never be anything more than it is, it needs to close.
For too long people have been getting wrapped around the axle on this topic.

I agree wholeheartedly that this airport issue has dragged on way too long. However, there can be no doubt that a well run modern airport can be an asset to a community.

The present proposal calls for a total investment of $20 to $30 million in federal funds to build an airport in Woodbine. The cost to the city is estimated to be over $10 million based on the true market value of the old airport property which we must pay back to the federal government to offset their expenditure.

Would we be further ahead to spend perhaps $2 to $3 million of federal funds to improve the airport we already own and which is, incidentally, located in St. Marys. This improvement could be done at no cost to the Taxpayers and the improved airport could be used as a draw for potential businesses looking to relocate in St. Marys.

As to your statement that "Candidates will say what they think they people want to hear." Absolutely. And it appears that a growing number of people, the people who will cast the votes, want to vote for a candidate that will not spend our money to move a valuable city asset to a competing community.

I'm going to paste this from another thread because it bears repeating...

Amazing...this from Deb Hase regarding the airport -

"Every time we go to DC the FAA tells us to move the airport (not always that directly, but they tell us none the less."
So you're translating the FAA (as non-partisan as you are).

"EVERY TIME we go to DC", Ms Hase? How many times and who pays for this?

"The proposed site is not the best but is it the most feasible. It was a gift..." To whom?

You cite the environmental studies at City Hall - but apparently you haven't actually read all of them.

"Something will go on that site; if not an airport, something else. It will be developed eventually."
Ah...so St. Marys taxpayers should pay for Sea Island (a failing corporation) to destroy the area?

Flawed reasoning, Ms Hase. You insult the citizens of St. Marys.

I have a simple question. With the city broke, the county broke, the state broke, and the federal government already 10 trillion dollars in debt why the heck are we even concidering paying to move the airport from St Marys to Woodbine?

For those who say it costs the city of St Marys money to keep it open, there is a simple solution to that problem. Close it down and tell the FAA or whomever to do what they want with it!!!

Get a Clue wrote:

Get a Clue. What do you get out of this?

Everyone else gets a bill.

I don't get anything out of it. I am just a St Marys taxpayer. I am fine with just shutting down the airport and moving on. I am just saying if you want to have an airport it needs to move, otherwise it will just keep costing us money for the few that use it.

Just like in business, you sometimes need to move to a new location to get more customers and grow.

I'm confused! How is the current airport "keep costing us money"? Are these on-going direct costs to the City or some sort of intangible costs such as revenue that could possibly be generated if the airport property were put back on the City's tax rolls?

Greenleaf wrote:

I'm confused! How is the current airport "keep costing us money"? Are these on-going direct costs to the City or some sort of intangible costs such as revenue that could possibly be generated if the airport property were put back on the City's tax rolls?

The Airport Authority has money in the bank and does not cost the City.

Why don't we wait for someone else to build the new airport first, then talk about closing this one.

Why is the City even involved in the building of a new airport, if it is not going to be in St. Marys?

Get a clue wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't get anything out of it. I am just a St Marys taxpayer. I am fine with just shutting down the airport and moving on. I am just saying if you want to have an airport it needs to move, otherwise it will just keep costing us money for the few that use it.
Just like in business, you sometimes need to move to a new location to get more customers and grow.

If that could only happen.

Get a clue wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't get anything out of it. I am just a St Marys taxpayer. I am fine with just shutting down the airport and moving on. I am just saying if you want to have an airport it needs to move, otherwise it will just keep costing us money for the few that use it.
Just like in business, you sometimes need to move to a new location to get more customers and grow.

Yes but do you move your business out of town into the woods, to get more business?

why is the current airport not making money? is there anyone doing anything to make it a profitable venture? if not, why not? if there is no one doing anything, why are we not looking for someone to pick up the ball and carry it. if after a reasonable amount of time and honest effort the picture remains bleak, let's close it and move on. as far as the "corporate welfare" satire being proposed by the "fab four" members of the council, tell them to "stuff it". the taxpayers are not a finance company for the "elitests" among us.

You do if that is a better location. Most airports are off by themselves for a reason. Just like jails should be. At one time the St Marys airport was off by itself, then things grew up around it.

Get a clue wrote:

You do if that is a better location. Most airports are off by themselves for a reason. Just like jails should be. At one time the St Marys airport was off by itself, then things grew up around it.

Do you really think that a location off the Billyville Road in Woodbine, an additional 30 minutes (approximately) driving time from downtown, is a better location for a business serving St. Marys?

Are there actually businesses in Camden County that use the St.Marys airport?

If so, who?

I think St.Marys airport is just used for recreational purposes only. I may be wrong, but since the mill is gone I am curious as to why St.Marys needs an airport.

Really now wrote:

Are there actually businesses in Camden County that use the St.Marys airport?
If so, who?
I think St.Marys airport is just used for recreational purposes only. I may be wrong, but since the mill is gone I am curious as to why St.Marys needs an airport.

maybe it doesn't. however, since it is already here the question arises, can we do something positive with it? hence my earlier comment.

Really now wrote:

Are there actually businesses in Camden County that use the St.Marys airport?
If so, who?
I think St.Marys airport is just used for recreational purposes only. I may be wrong, but since the mill is gone I am curious as to why St.Marys needs an airport.

A progressive, forward thinking city might actually look at our airport and realize that it is an asset that can be utilized for city growth. For example, I would suggest that you consider the city of Douglas, GA who refurbished their dilapidated old airport (with federal and state funding) and made it the centerpiece of their program of industrial development. As a result, they landed the regional Wal Mart distribution center among other businesses..

"Buzzard For Mayor". This town has two assets that could be utilitzed for the betterment of the city and county--the airport and waterfront-- and the city fathers have no clue what to do with them.