CAA: GA News, "Dunsmuir, California airport solution in the works"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Friday, February 15, 2002

Airport solution in the works
By John Diehm
The Mount Shasta (CA) Herald


A solution to the air space problem that closed Mott Airport appears to
have been found and has the potential of reopening the airport in about
90 days.

In a report to the Siskiyou County Supervisors last week, Dunsmuir City
Attorney James Pierce said the property owners involved have agreed in
principle to a "navigation easement" which would make mediation
unnecessary.

"In a January 23rd meeting we discussed the scope of the mediation
process in district attorney Pete Knoll's office and discovered that
mediation was not necessary," Pierce said. "We are pursuing a navigation
easement with two west side property owners. No price number has been
exchanged at this time."

The Mott Airport closure came before the supervisors a month ago when
representatives from Dunsmuir said the county needed to enforce their
existing codes to abate the tree problem so the city owned airport,
which had been closed by Caltrans for that reason, could reopen.

Supervisors directed the parties to mediate the problem and report
progress on February 5th.

The following week Caltrans issued the county a demand letter to enforce
those codes and notice of termination of all state, and possibly federal
airport funding until the Dunsmuir problem is fixed.

Mott Airport is an island of city land surrounded by private property in
the county's jurisdiction and Forest Service land.

"Ever since the January meeting with supervisors the Mott Airport
problem has been on our radar screen," said county administrator Howard
Moody.

"There has been a lot of work taking place since that time in addressing
these problems which can be solved," said county counsel Frank DeMarco.
"We focused on the air navigation issues on the west side and the cost
involved and also worked with the federal government on language and
county ordinance issues."

DeMarco said the only thing left is for the parties to reach an
agreement on price for the trees. They have the option of getting an
appraisal if an agreement is not reached.

Pierce said the 12 or so west side property owners have received and are
considering the navigation easement proposals. 

He said most of them are accepting the letter agreement giving the city
the right to maintain the airspace at the city's expense. They are doing
so without compensation for trees cut.

While the problem of trees protruding into the Mott Airport air space on
the west is being handled with a navigation easement, the city of
Dunsmuir is working with the Forest Service to get the trees into height
compliance at the north end of the runway.

Pierce said the Forest Service has informed him that a public hearing
process is necessary before their trees can be taken care of. "We had a
positive meeting but are probably 60 to 90 days away from any work on
the Forest Service process.

Forest Service district ranger Robert Hammond said the 26 acres in
question is under his control. "The document can be prepared quickly but
needs to first go to the public. If there are no appeals, it can be
implemented almost immediately."

"We gave strong direction that this go forward in a timely manner and I
am glad to see it," said supervisor Joan Smith.

"We are at the table and did so as soon as you asked," said supervisor
LaVada Erickson. "If this can't be handled fast, get a mediator out here
so we can get this problem solved."

Both Dunsmuir Mayor Wayne Meredith and city administrator Michael Powers
claimed the county contributed to the problem by not enforcing their own
county codes.

Caltrans public safety officer James Michael said his department has a
problem with the "discretionary nature" of the county ordinance. "We
believe if you have an ordinance the district attorney should enforce
it."

DeMarco said he is working on language change in the code for
consideration at the February 19th supervisors' meeting.


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