Expansion plans have airport runway crossing Highway 70
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This section of Highway 70 is set to eventually be closed and rerouted, although this will not occur until the planned four-lane highway between McMinnville and Woodbury has gotten under way.
Airport Commission Chairman Joe Howard told county commissioners Monday night the airport had already used state funds to purchase the land across Highway 70.
Howard emphasized the importance of the airport to local business and industry, noting that in the last 30 days local manufacturer Calsonic Yorozu has used the airport to receive several “just-in-time” shipments of parts that were needed to keep lines running, thereby saving thousands of dollars in downtime for those assembly lines.
Howard also reminded commissioners of the positive impact a modern and efficient airport has on bringing in new industry.
Commissioners were given a copy of the airport budget for 2002-2003, which showed a total budget of $833,000. However, when the budget was broken down, it showed the actual cost to the county, after state and federal funds and airport revenues from sales of fuel and rental of hangers, was less than $80,000.
“When you talk about a budget of $78,000 for running this airport, and with everything we’ve got here,” Howard said, “and you look around up here, and we’ve got all these hangars. These hangars up haven’t cost the county one dime. They’ve all paid for themselves.”
Airport manager Kevin Bishop indicated the airport has been becoming more efficient budget wise.
“We’ve decreased our budget over the last five years,” Bishop told the commissioners.
Howard said the public perception of the cost of operating the airport is sometimes a long way from the actual figures.
“When you go out in the general public, that’s a hard sell,” he said. “If you told them the airport budget was $800,000 they’d be ready to crucify you. But it’s not that much. It’s $78,000. I told some people that, and they couldn’t believe we operated that cheaply.”
One commissioner voiced his approval of the local facility and the way it compared to other smaller airports in the state.
“I’ve flown around here quite a bit,” said Commissioner Gary Prater, “and this airport is one of the nicest in the state.”
Howard emphasized the planned expansions depended on future need and economic conditions. More than anything, Howard wanted to impress upon commissioners that the airport has the potential to become the kind of state-of-the-art facility the county may indeed need beyond 2010.