Airport authority
to select advisory
committee
Critics urged to attend meetings
By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer
As planning for a possible new airport
gets into full swing, members of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority will
select an advisory committee to assist with choosing a new location and deciding
what to do with the airport in Hailey.
The idea put forth at the board meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 2, preceded the reading of a prepared statement by an attorney
representing a new group called "Save Friedman Airport" that advocates keeping
the airport open. Tom Campion, who read the statement, relayed concerns that the
board was capitulating to pressure from the FAA rather than heeding the desires
of some members of the community who would like to see the airport remain in
Hailey.
Board members deflected the criticism and
said that the planning process was and still is open to the public, and that the
future of Friedman is yet to be determined. Campion said he was encouraged by
the board’s request for more community participation and promised to deliver the
board’s message to the members of his group that they participate in future
meetings.
"I think at times they have an admirable
goal," Airport Manager Rick Baird said. But, he also said that informing people
about the problems facing Friedman improves their understanding of the need to
find a new location. "We cannot regress. That is not an option," he said.
Closing Friedman is not definite, board
member Len Harlig said. The board added that people involved in the planning
process would understand that included in the search for a new airport location
is consideration of what to do with the old airport.
The key point of the meeting was to ensure
that community members throughout the valley know the invitation to participate
in planning for the future of air transportation in the valley is open to
everyone.
"We want to be inclusive. We want to set
up a large advisory committee including surrounding communities ... " Chairwoman
Mary Ann Mix said. "Public involvement will be expanded beyond the master plan."
Mix and Baird said they would take a
master plan presentation on the road to give workshops to any group that would
like to be better informed. The advisory committee could also include people
from neighboring counties, Mix said. But, she stressed that the committee would
be an advisory group. "We are not abrogating our responsibility," she said. The
ultimate decision will lie with this board."
As the board begins the site search and
feasibility assessments in 2004, numerous public meetings will be scheduled to
get input from the community.
Airport consultant Tom Schnetzer of Mead
and Hunt recommended that the board look for diversity as it searches for
members of the advisory committee.
"We will give the public more access, more
workshops in more locations," Mix said. The goal for the advisory group is to
pool together a large group of people with different stakes.