The Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners and mayor-elect Joe Thallemer made it clear at Tuesday night’s aviation board meeting that CR 100E will not be closed if an airport runway project is approved.
Both board member Gene Zale and Thallemer informed the packed room of more than 50 concerned citizens that it was not their intent to close the road.
“Closing the road was never an option,” Thallemer said. “We will not close that road.”
Zale, the vice president of the aviation board was the target of many questions by Intsru-med owner and pilot Tony Miller. Zale told Miller that the road will not be closed.
“Nothing is for sure on this project, we are looking for information and input from the community on this project,” Zale said. “I'd never close (CR)100.”
Miller expressed his concerns over the possible airport expansion.
“If the road is a mile long that will add $132 in gas per year per commuter,” Miller said. “It will also add six hours a year additional bus time per student riding the bus. Is this the best use of money? I think that we might get more use out of a new terminal than an additional 1,000 feet of runway.”
Zale responded by letting everyone know that the project was about safety and how to make the airport safer for pilots. The board had received letters and complaints from pilots who said that they were restricted by the parameters of the airport runway.
“This project has always been about safety,” Zale said. “I do not need to justify the need of this project because the FAA has already justified the project.”
Miller then asked Zale and the board how many flights have been diverted because of safety concerns. Warsaw Municipal Airport Manager David Beall answered the question.
“It was in the mid teens,” Beall said. “I can't tell you exactly without pulling out the file and looking at it.”
Many of the complaints came from pilots who fly larger aircraft and were not able to fly at full capacity or fuel up to full capacity and take off and land safely.
Miller asked if it’s responsible to go through with a $6 million project for the convenience of a few executives.
Ken Ross, an engineer from NGC Corp. in Indianapolis, explained that when pilots fly to Warsaw Municipal Airport they lose 2,000 feet of runway because they need to take a glide path onto the runway due to the height of the power lines on the east side of the runway.
“It may be a matter of convenience, but business move because of convenience,” Ross said. “By doing this project you will not give businesses a reason to leave.”
Ross also informed the crowd that the majority of the project would be paid by the government.
“The FAA pays for 95 percent of the project and Indiana will pay for two-and-a-half percent of the project, that leaves the airport to pay for $150,000. The FAA has already paid $280,000 for five environmental studies on the power lines and under all scenarios the power lines must come down” Ross said. “The airport has the money saved and the FAA will pay for the complete cost of the new road.”
Aviation Board Member Paul Grossnickle told everyone in the room that there would be no cost to the community since the airport had the foresight to save the money to pay for the project.
Miller also had concerns about the future of tenants at the airport.
“A month ago DePuy left, what will happen in the future with the economy the way it is when another company leaves the airport?” Miller said. “Historically aviation departments are the first to go when they start letting go of people.”
Zale said he didn’t know what they would do if more tenants leave.
The project has been in the works for at least 10 years and by Ross's estimates will continue for another five to 10 years. If the project ends up being turned down the city might find itself in a situation where future projects with the FAA could be difficult to come by.
“Seemed pretty clear from our consultant that if we don't do the project we might have a problem getting more money for projects later on,” Thallemer said. “That's a reality we have to look at when going through the project. Also we have to look at the economic impact this project could have on the community.”
While Miller was looking for the board to spend the money on a new terminal Thallemer said that is an option, but right now it is low on the list of things to get done.
“We certainly want to look at a new terminal, but that will be a capital improvement project to follow the runway,” Thallemer said.
Both Thallemer and Zale thanked those who came and thanked Miller for his time and said he had some good points and concerns.
“”The bottom line is that we are going to look at what is best for Warsaw,” Zale said.
