The meaning of the airport vote

I presume that the 1,535 voters who voted against repeal did so knowing that the airport would not close even if they were in the minority. Their reason for the vote was to pursue the $16 million or so of FAA money which would afford the upgrades. In other words these voters, win or lose, are solidly in favor of maintaining the airport.

Also, the 1,886 voters who voted to repeal the resolution knew that even if they prevailed, the airport would not close. This is because of present obligations to tenants of the airport; therefore, a total of 3,421 city residents (most taxpayers) are in favor of retaining the airport in its present configuration. In order to do this, the airport association must come up with a viable plan to at least let the airport break even.

Remember when the airport association signed a lease with the city to manage the airport in 1966-67? This was when the runway was first paved and it was accomplished by a unified community effort to raise the money with a fuel tax, rent from operators and users, membership in the association and a drive to raise necessary funds for initial construction costs. “It was made clear at the time that the development of the airport was to be done without burden on the taxpayers.”

Remember some of the airport giants? Names like Larry Stockhill, Mike Strand, Dr. Herman Ross, Ritchey Ostrom, Cecil Rhodes, Bob Ewing, Jim Edmiston, Bob Blake, Sol Catron, Jay Kilpatrick and many others come to mind. Then the real folks like Holly Larson of Royal Logging, Doug Wise (gravel), Lavonne Gilbertson of Union Oil Co., Dell McManus (hauling), Doug Bishop (surveyor), Hall Sand & Gravel, Dean Jellison (attorney), Montana Pilots Assoc., Stedje Bros., Engebretson Gravel, Landry Oil Co., The Montana Aeronautics Commission, Conrad Bank, City of Kalispell, Flathead County, the Jaycees, the Chamber and many more stepped up to make this happen. This group and others donated equipment, materials, expertise, money and motivation to get the job done!

Where are the folks that followed these giants? It will take the tenants, pilots and other interested people to get organized with a financial plan to make necessary improvements remembering that “development of the airport was to be done without burden on the taxpayers.” The future of general aviation is at stake. It is an expensive hobby and like the golfers who pay their way, it can be done, or like the horse-racing people, they couldn’t or wouldn’t pay and we may be seeing their demise.

This election answered many questions. Now we will see if the challenge can be met with an invigorated association that can match the giants that made it happen in 1966 and 1967.

Haarr is a resident of Kalispell