OPINION: No good reason to keep Kalispell City Airport open

Monday night the Kalispell City Council had a workshop about the Kalispell City Airport. They had the public get up and state their views on the airport first. And they wanted to hear what the people wanted to say before they started to hash out the airport issue.

Well as always, the pilots were the first to jump up and claim this and claim that, and how much the airport does for the city and so forth and so forth. Same old same old. At least 90 percent of them are so uninformed and bringing up old garbage that has been proven wrong three years ago.

But it’s what it is. A lot of them that spoke, I find it real hard to believe they still fly. One guy was talking about when he started to fly way back in the 1930s. Another was up there with random thoughts and mumbling about something. No one was able to hear or understand him. Well the point I’m trying to make here is, it’s the same old group of people that have been talking the same stuff for years. Oh and by the way, maybe one or two claimed to live in Kalispell.

But then a young man got up and started to talk about the real proven facts of how much the city airport has costs the residents and taxpayers of Kalispell. He had most of the council dumbfounded, had the city manager scratching his head not knowing what to say, had the pilots’ mouths open with the deer-in-the-headlight look on their faces. Had me in awe at his ability to put this all together.

We have been led to believe in false accounting. It was a house cleaning you would not believe. That airport has not just been running at a loss every year, but millions of dollars have gone into that airport from us residents and taxpayers. The airport-supporting council members want to whitewash this so bad. The look of horror and despair on the pilots’ faces was shocking. This young accountant proved everything we have been saying about the cost factor of this defunct airport for years. Proved beyond a shadow of doubt that this airport should be closed now!

Then, the pilots came back and said: We want to fund the airport; we want to take it over and run the airport. We don’t want any resident tax moneys to be put into the airport. And Mr. Swank said he will look into funding for the pilots. Half the council members, and all of us, had the expression on our face like yeah right as we bobbed our heads. The other council members perked up and had goofy smiles on their faces like they seen a magical prince walk into the room. Just a reminder to all you out there: We fell for this gimmick once before and we took a licking and paid out the nose to bail out that defunct airport, had to take it back … cost us so much money they don’t even want to talk about it.

So after public comment was over, it was the council’s turn to talk about it and offer their suggestions and what they think we should do and so forth. Councilman Phil commented about what the pilots put in the paper with their ads. And he talked about their numbers they used and showed to them and to the public and other council members that it was all bull. And did some comparison with the real numbers. And flat out told them if they want to come up with a plan it is OK with him, BUT they must set aside $18 million of TAXPAYER PROTECTION FUNDS (using their numbers). A couple pilots stood up and walked out thewn.

Personal note: It was all a ruse. First of all they don’t want to fund this airport, and they want us to do it. I doubt very much we will see a real plan put together by them.

But the councilman continued to give them an outline of what he would want to protect the taxpayer if they wanted to do this again. He mentioned the cost of the last time the pilots tried this. What a disaster that was.

Then the mayor said we should let them give us a plan, but that was not easier said than done. If the council gives them a shot at that city property, the city needs to be fair and give it out to everyone. Such as builders also. I think they are going to consult with the city attorney on this, well they should anyway.

Well, I was very proud of Phil and some other council members up there that night. They really showed that they were sitting up there for you and me and covering all bases to protect the taxpayer. Sad to say there are council members that are NOT. I see cronyism, bias, anger, self-righteous indignation coming from the council and others that wants you the resident taxpayer to pay for their buddies’ playground. Even when it has been proven that it is not a good investment and is a drag on their people who they say they are representing.

What it boils down to now is that we have council members who refuse to look at the truth, the proof and the facts. They want to take your hard-earned money and continue to pay for their friends’ playground despite your wishes, despite what is best for the city, despite … that’s it... Childish... But they don’t want to admit they were wrong.

This may come down to you, my friends.

1. Vote them out of office. (You know who are the ones not working for the good of the people.)

2. Quiet Skies of Kalispell will need to regroup and support any and all that need our help to close this airport down once and for all.

3. Back and support the other groups that seek reform. (We all must join forces.)

4. Vote down any bond issue to support this defunct airport if it goes that far. 

5. STOP corruption in our City Hall.

6. Be prepared to campaign for real. We tried to work with them, we gave them options, and we spent over a million dollars in studies for them. But the results just was not what they wanted. They did not want to hear the truth.

Protect the taxpayer!

Davis is a resident of Kalispell and represents Quiet Skies of Kalispell.