"Michigan city to hold hearing on airport ordinance"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Monday, March 17, 2008

Charlotte to hold hearing on airport
Public invited to give opinions on possible ordinance
By Rachel S. Greco 
The Lansing (MI) State Journal


CHARLOTTE - The public will get the chance to comment on a proposed airport
ordinance crafted to govern activities at the hub.

City officials still are negotiating the terms of an agreement that would
bring a fixed base operator (FBO) to Charlotte's airport, but the City
Council has begun laying the groundwork for regulating activities at the
facility.

Officials say the proposed airport ordinance would establish an Airport
Advisory Board and approve the framework for regulating airport activities,
said City Manager Gregg Guetschow.

"We didn't presently have an ordinance on the books that specifically talks
about the airport, and I was concerned, in part, about the authority for
being able to promulgate and enforce regulations related to the use of the
airport," he told officials during a recent meeting.

Under the proposed ordinance, an Airport Advisory Board would be
established.

It would include five voting members who are residents of the city.

They would be appointed to the board by the mayor.

In addition, three ex-offico members would serve on the board - including
one City Council member, the airport manager and a representative from Eaton
Township. Guetschow said Eaton Township was included in the board because it
borders the airport.

A public hearing on the proposed airport ordinance is scheduled at the City
Council's March 24 meeting.

Although a public hearing is not required by the city's charter, several
council members said they felt it was important to give the public the
opportunity to speak on the proposal.

"As we all know, there's been a great deal of discussion about the airport
over the past year, and I think it's very important to have a public hearing
on this issue," said Councilman Tim Lewis.

Mayor Deb Shaughnessy agreed. "I think it is important that every step of
the way people know what we're doing with the airport because I've heard
people talk about it, and there still is mistrust out there," she said.

Shaughnessy also said the ordinance comes at the right time.

"I think it's one more step towards making airport operations accountable to
the City Council and to the taxpayers," she said. "I think for too many
years it's kind of been left on its own and questions weren't asked."

The public hearing could come at the exact same time that council considers
a newly negotiated agreement for FBO services at the airport.

City staff have been working through the details of a proposed contract with
Mark Cosgrove of Professional Aviation Services and Todd Cotter of Ledge Air
Repair Inc. If approved by City Council, the contract would allow the city
to capture a large percentage of the revenue generated through both fuel
sales and hangar rentals at the airport.

The proposed deal could allow Charlotte to recoup at least half of the
$50,000 spent annually to maintain the facility, while at the same time
gaining a fixed-base operator (FBO) for the airport.

Charlotte Community Development Director Bryan Merkle said that agreement
may be ready for the council to review on March 24 as well.

   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php

*****************************************