LETTER: City airport is a lost cause

Whoa! 12 people protest the closing of the Kalispell City Airport. I’d venture to say nine of them don’t even live in Kalispell, but 12 people are a small and insignificant number to be protesting such a matter as this. After all it’s been in the news and on the City Council agendas for years.

After hearing what they had to say, I wondered why they even wasted their time to protest. What they all said had no, zero, zilch, nothing to do with the reasons for closing, or did it? Some of them mentioned, well if we did this or if we did that, or the city taxpayers pay for this or pay for that, maybe the airport could someday be viable.

Come ON! You all have had 88 years… and the last 30 years have been purely embarrassing — in the hole at the taxpayer’s expense! Why do you think it’s up for a vote? What part of the One Million Dollars in studies the citizens of Kalispell have paid for that come to the conclusion that it’s a tax burden… do you NOT understand? I remember it was the same 12 people that came to the meeting when there were over 100 Quiet Skies members and taxpayers and residents of Kalispell asking for the airport to be closed.

But enough of this banter back and forth about this airport. The City Council members have all the numbers and they have all the expert advice One Million Dollars can buy to make the decision. They also heard from the people of Kalispell on what we want done with that airport. They know it’s a tax burden, they know there are better uses for that property, and they know it’s a duplication of services.

They know the money that that airport would take from the general fund would and could be used for better services such as, police, fire, and downtown improvements. They know it should be closed.

If any one of them does not believe this is so, we the people of Kalispell, the taxpayers, the people that you represent, we want to hear from your own mouth the reason and the good solid judgement and proof that One Million Dollars in professional advice and studies are wrong.

I respectfully ask each and every one of the council members to explain their vote this coming July 5. Work together, council members. Keep earning the respect of all residents regardless of what part of town you represent. Remember ALL RESIDENTS are paying taxes, so do what’s right for all. —Scott Davis, Kalispell