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Bandon to airport board: Hands off
By Carl Mickelson, Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 04, 2006 | No comments posted.
Despite the Coos County Airport District's interest in owning the Bandon State Airport, an alliance of Bandon public officials and community members remains steadfast in opposition.
Last night, the Bandon City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing CCAD, or any other group outside Bandon, from taking over the 132-acre airport located about two miles south of the city.
About 10 hours before the meeting, Bandon Mayor Mary Schamehorn said she was confident a proposed resolution requesting the airport remain a possession of the Oregon Department of Aviation would pass resoundingly.
“I'm almost 100-percent sure that this will pass at tonight's meeting,” she said.
And that's just what happened.
On Monday night, the Bandon City Council voted 6-0, signaling CCAD officials to stand down.
Schamehorn's certainty Monday was rooted, in part, she said, by a March 23 meeting when about 15 Bandon public officials met to discuss the airport's future. The consensus from the group, which included officials from the city, Port of Bandon, the Bandon Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee and Bandon Aero Club, resulted in the creation of the city resolution.
“We're basically asking them (the state) to hold off on any disposition of the airport,” Schamehorn said. “We either want the state to maintain control or we would like it to be under local control.”
The resolution also leaves the option open for creation of a new taxing district in Bandon.
Even though the Oregon Department of Aviation is a department based out of Salem - hardly local - many people are leery over CCAD owning the airport. According to the resolution, local control means either the city, the port or a new Bandon airport district.
The resolution also asks the Department of Aviation to maintain control while the city looks for “an appropriate local agency.”
The main concern, Schamehorn said, boils down to fears of increased noise if CCAD was to take over the airport.
“One of the main concerns is that they (CCAD) indicated they may lengthen the runway,” Schamehorn said. “We feel that because the flight path goes right over Bandon, we would be so close to the airport that the noise would be absolutely horrendous. That is one of the big concerns. It would destroy the livability of Bandon.”
The state owns 28 airports, but wants to divest itself of them to local public entities who can better manage the airports. None of the 28 airports, including the one in Bandon, is a money maker. On average, the Bandon Airport takes in about $8,000 annually, but needs to cover nearly $60,000 in expenses each year.
In news reports, CCAD officials indicated they want to own the airport because of limited space on runways during the summer at the North Bend Airport. They also wanted to beef up the runway in Bandon to allow larger planes to land there.
“It was pretty clear what CCAD intended, and we just felt like it would not be in the best interest of the community,” Schamehorn said.
That said, Bandon officials are not against making changes at the airport, such as additional private fueling companies - just in limited amounts.
“We would like to see some sprucing up at the airport, maybe a new (fixed-base operator), or new amenities for pilots. We would support that,” Schamehorn said.
CCAD member Jon Barton said since the Bandon community was against CCAD owning the airport, CCAD would no longer pursue it.
“This isn't a land grab,” Barton said. “If that is what they want, God bless them and Godspeed. We're not going to stand in their way.”
Barton said CCAD has never made a formal offer to the department of Aviation to own the Bandon airport and were asked to come to the table last summer by Bandon officials to discuss the future of the airport. However, in a Feb. 21 letter to the Department of Aviation, CCAD officials did inquire about acquiring the airport.
“We have expressed a willingness to look at the possibility,” Barton said. “No application has been proffered.”
Reg Pullen, the president of the Port of Bandon, said the port has yet to pass a resolution similar to the one the city passed on Monday.
But it intends to.
“We're probably going to come up with the same thing,” Pullen said “That is our consensus - to stay with the state if at all possible. If it is necessary for someone to take it over, we would like to be given the consideration. The greater community of Bandon would like to have control of its own destiny when it comes to control of the airport,” Pullen said. “If the state would keep it - that would be sweet.”
Last night, the Bandon City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing CCAD, or any other group outside Bandon, from taking over the 132-acre airport located about two miles south of the city.
About 10 hours before the meeting, Bandon Mayor Mary Schamehorn said she was confident a proposed resolution requesting the airport remain a possession of the Oregon Department of Aviation would pass resoundingly.
“I'm almost 100-percent sure that this will pass at tonight's meeting,” she said.
And that's just what happened.
On Monday night, the Bandon City Council voted 6-0, signaling CCAD officials to stand down.
Schamehorn's certainty Monday was rooted, in part, she said, by a March 23 meeting when about 15 Bandon public officials met to discuss the airport's future. The consensus from the group, which included officials from the city, Port of Bandon, the Bandon Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee and Bandon Aero Club, resulted in the creation of the city resolution.
“We're basically asking them (the state) to hold off on any disposition of the airport,” Schamehorn said. “We either want the state to maintain control or we would like it to be under local control.”
The resolution also leaves the option open for creation of a new taxing district in Bandon.
Even though the Oregon Department of Aviation is a department based out of Salem - hardly local - many people are leery over CCAD owning the airport. According to the resolution, local control means either the city, the port or a new Bandon airport district.
The resolution also asks the Department of Aviation to maintain control while the city looks for “an appropriate local agency.”
The main concern, Schamehorn said, boils down to fears of increased noise if CCAD was to take over the airport.
“One of the main concerns is that they (CCAD) indicated they may lengthen the runway,” Schamehorn said. “We feel that because the flight path goes right over Bandon, we would be so close to the airport that the noise would be absolutely horrendous. That is one of the big concerns. It would destroy the livability of Bandon.”
The state owns 28 airports, but wants to divest itself of them to local public entities who can better manage the airports. None of the 28 airports, including the one in Bandon, is a money maker. On average, the Bandon Airport takes in about $8,000 annually, but needs to cover nearly $60,000 in expenses each year.
In news reports, CCAD officials indicated they want to own the airport because of limited space on runways during the summer at the North Bend Airport. They also wanted to beef up the runway in Bandon to allow larger planes to land there.
“It was pretty clear what CCAD intended, and we just felt like it would not be in the best interest of the community,” Schamehorn said.
That said, Bandon officials are not against making changes at the airport, such as additional private fueling companies - just in limited amounts.
“We would like to see some sprucing up at the airport, maybe a new (fixed-base operator), or new amenities for pilots. We would support that,” Schamehorn said.
CCAD member Jon Barton said since the Bandon community was against CCAD owning the airport, CCAD would no longer pursue it.
“This isn't a land grab,” Barton said. “If that is what they want, God bless them and Godspeed. We're not going to stand in their way.”
Barton said CCAD has never made a formal offer to the department of Aviation to own the Bandon airport and were asked to come to the table last summer by Bandon officials to discuss the future of the airport. However, in a Feb. 21 letter to the Department of Aviation, CCAD officials did inquire about acquiring the airport.
“We have expressed a willingness to look at the possibility,” Barton said. “No application has been proffered.”
Reg Pullen, the president of the Port of Bandon, said the port has yet to pass a resolution similar to the one the city passed on Monday.
But it intends to.
“We're probably going to come up with the same thing,” Pullen said “That is our consensus - to stay with the state if at all possible. If it is necessary for someone to take it over, we would like to be given the consideration. The greater community of Bandon would like to have control of its own destiny when it comes to control of the airport,” Pullen said. “If the state would keep it - that would be sweet.”
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