100E Closure Opponents Meet; Hear From City Councilman
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By John DeGroff-
Warsaw City Council President Joe Thallemer, who is also a non-voting member of the Aviation Board, addressed the crowd with concerns on the other side of the issue.
But first, Tony Miller, one of the leading opponents of the expansion, opened the meeting by asking the question: "Out of curiosity, how many people here, by a show of hands, are opposed to the airport expansion if they do not close CR 100?"
The almost unanimous result showed little opposition to airport expansion.
"What this shows," Miller said, "is that what we're opposed to are traffic problems that would be brought up by the possible closure and re-routing of CR 100."
According to Miller, the airport expansion involves three battles.
"One is the annexation of the property on the east side of 100, which enables the Aviation Board to lengthen the runway and possibly close 100. The second battle involves spot annexation. By annexing the land on the east side of 100, then they control the road. I'm opposed to the city controlling that road. The third thing is that in the opinion of Mayor Wiggins, the Aviation Board, which he appoints and the airport manager, which he recommends and the Aviation Board hires, will make the right decision for all of us in this room. It's my opinion that if we felt they were going to make the right decision, we wouldn't be sitting in here."
Most of Miller's presentation dealt with information that has been previously made available in letters to the editor and in various articles and interviews.
Thallemer had the task of presenting the city's side of the issue.
"The current runway expansion proposal for the airport has been a concern for the Aviation Board for at least 10 years," Thallemer said. "Planes have changed, pilots have changed, Aviation Board members have changed, but there's always been a safety concern on the runway. Is it a concern for everybody? Probably not. Unfortunately, with safety in airplanes, it only takes one incident."
Specific safety concerns such as power lines, runway length and the type of aircraft using the airport have all been studied by consulting firms and the FAA when looking at capital improvement plans for the airport, Thallemer said.
"We're at a point now where conclusions have been made with regard to what the options are," Thallemer said. "A group went up to Chicago about two months ago to meet with the FAA. The director of the FAA said essentially that the project was worthy but they understood the problems this could create. They said go back to your community and work that solution out.
"That's where we are today. The fact that these engineering studies have been going on for that long gives this some momentum. I truly believe an expansion of our airport is going to come and it's going to be critical. We have an opportunity to do it now ... the opportunity is being presented now."
Thallemer said since the city owns the property on the east of CR 100, they should be able to annex it. This would take the county out of the equation in regard to he land, but would enable the county to have a hand in any re-routing or construction of roads in the area.
"South Bend Regional Airport added 1,100 feet three or four years ago to their north/south runway," Thallemer said. "They diverted Lincolnway West, which is three or four times busier than CR 100. They were able to get that done, and they jogged that with a couple of roundabouts at that end of the runway. I think that's a good compromise in that situation."
During the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, concerns ranging from power line height, emergency service routes, school bus routes, environmental impact and the alleged dumping of jet fuel and aircraft-related chemicals into Chapman Lake all were raised.
The option of providing a tunnel under CR 100 was brought up, but, according to Thallemer, this is something Homeland Security would veto since it would be under an active runway.
In closing his part of the meeting, Thallemer said, "We don't want to make a decision and look back in 10 years and say that was a bad decision. It's important to look at everything before we make the final decision. Your points are all valid and legitimate. But to me, that's the whole issue ... to look at everything."
"I appreciate everyone coming out for this," Miller said in his closing statements. "Be involved in every meeting and don't take for granted what's said in the papers. Show your concern and be involved."[[In-content Ad]]
Warsaw City Council President Joe Thallemer, who is also a non-voting member of the Aviation Board, addressed the crowd with concerns on the other side of the issue.
But first, Tony Miller, one of the leading opponents of the expansion, opened the meeting by asking the question: "Out of curiosity, how many people here, by a show of hands, are opposed to the airport expansion if they do not close CR 100?"
The almost unanimous result showed little opposition to airport expansion.
"What this shows," Miller said, "is that what we're opposed to are traffic problems that would be brought up by the possible closure and re-routing of CR 100."
According to Miller, the airport expansion involves three battles.
"One is the annexation of the property on the east side of 100, which enables the Aviation Board to lengthen the runway and possibly close 100. The second battle involves spot annexation. By annexing the land on the east side of 100, then they control the road. I'm opposed to the city controlling that road. The third thing is that in the opinion of Mayor Wiggins, the Aviation Board, which he appoints and the airport manager, which he recommends and the Aviation Board hires, will make the right decision for all of us in this room. It's my opinion that if we felt they were going to make the right decision, we wouldn't be sitting in here."
Most of Miller's presentation dealt with information that has been previously made available in letters to the editor and in various articles and interviews.
Thallemer had the task of presenting the city's side of the issue.
"The current runway expansion proposal for the airport has been a concern for the Aviation Board for at least 10 years," Thallemer said. "Planes have changed, pilots have changed, Aviation Board members have changed, but there's always been a safety concern on the runway. Is it a concern for everybody? Probably not. Unfortunately, with safety in airplanes, it only takes one incident."
Specific safety concerns such as power lines, runway length and the type of aircraft using the airport have all been studied by consulting firms and the FAA when looking at capital improvement plans for the airport, Thallemer said.
"We're at a point now where conclusions have been made with regard to what the options are," Thallemer said. "A group went up to Chicago about two months ago to meet with the FAA. The director of the FAA said essentially that the project was worthy but they understood the problems this could create. They said go back to your community and work that solution out.
"That's where we are today. The fact that these engineering studies have been going on for that long gives this some momentum. I truly believe an expansion of our airport is going to come and it's going to be critical. We have an opportunity to do it now ... the opportunity is being presented now."
Thallemer said since the city owns the property on the east of CR 100, they should be able to annex it. This would take the county out of the equation in regard to he land, but would enable the county to have a hand in any re-routing or construction of roads in the area.
"South Bend Regional Airport added 1,100 feet three or four years ago to their north/south runway," Thallemer said. "They diverted Lincolnway West, which is three or four times busier than CR 100. They were able to get that done, and they jogged that with a couple of roundabouts at that end of the runway. I think that's a good compromise in that situation."
During the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, concerns ranging from power line height, emergency service routes, school bus routes, environmental impact and the alleged dumping of jet fuel and aircraft-related chemicals into Chapman Lake all were raised.
The option of providing a tunnel under CR 100 was brought up, but, according to Thallemer, this is something Homeland Security would veto since it would be under an active runway.
In closing his part of the meeting, Thallemer said, "We don't want to make a decision and look back in 10 years and say that was a bad decision. It's important to look at everything before we make the final decision. Your points are all valid and legitimate. But to me, that's the whole issue ... to look at everything."
"I appreciate everyone coming out for this," Miller said in his closing statements. "Be involved in every meeting and don't take for granted what's said in the papers. Show your concern and be involved."[[In-content Ad]]
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