Even though only two related issues were on the board of aldermen's agenda on Monday, the St. Clair Regional Airport became a topic of discussion several different times throughout the evening when the group gathered for its regular meeting.
A pair of local airport proponents - Jim DeVries of Pacific and Gilbert Hoffman of rural St. Clair - questioned the aldermen, Mayor Ron Blum and City Administrator Rick Childers at various times during what was otherwise a quiet meeting.
Two bills relating to the airport unanimously were passed by the four-member board. One dealt with retaining the services of QED Airport & Aviation Consultants for another year to help in the pursuit of closing the facility on the city's north side, and the other concerned raising hangar space rental fees at the airport for 2012 by $20 per month.
Ron Price of QED has been working closely with city officials through the process of trying to close the local aviation facility to make way for proposed retail development. The Dec. 5 ordinance is "simply a continuation of the existing agreement with QED," Childers said. "Basically, everything stays the same."
The ordinance states that Mayor Ron Blum will enter into a professional services agreement with QED for "the provision of services to obtain a release of obligations for the St. Clair Regional Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration."
Price's fee is $150,000 but only payable if the city is successful in closing the facility.
The hangar fee ordinance raises current rent to $175 per month from $155. Tie-down fees remain at $25 per month. The ordinance also changes the vacancy notification period from 60 days to 30.
Before the ordinance was passed, Hoffman asked the board why there will be a rental fee increase.
"We've run this fund in a deficit for years," Blum said in response. "And it's still running a deficit. It's not fair to our citizens to not make everyone pay their fair share."
Hoffman also questioned the increase when no improvements have been made to the facility.
Ward 1 Alderman Connie Marrocco then suggested to Blum that the vote be taken on the hangar fee hike. He called for that vote immediately.
Before the regular meeting, during a public hearing about the 2012 proposed budget, DeVries - who rents hangar space locally - requested answers from Childers about the amount of money budgeted to pay insurance costs for the airport.
According to budget figures, Childers said the proposed figure is $6,900. DeVries questioned that amount, saying it should only be $1,500 according to information he had.
The city administrator responded that the amount has been discussed with MIRMA, the city's insurance carrier, and it's been determined to be "adequate."
Blum then chimed in.
"We've received no complaints about this from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)," he said. "Until we receive complaints, we will proceed as scheduled."
At the end of the meeting during the public comment period, Hoffman walked to the podium to ask more airport-related questions.
He first questioned the amount QED would receive for its services, and Blum reminded him that it would be $150,000 only if closure was successful. Hoffman then said he also wanted to bring up "several things," among them stating that the city will be "giving that money away" if the airport closes, the land it sits on is sold and the proceeds are given to the FAA to disperse among other airports in the area for improvement projects.
It's been estimated the airport land could be sold for about $2.5 million.
"I feel you're taking away from our city," Hoffman said.
Hoffman also said he wanted to be placed on a future board agenda so he could discuss the airport situation further.
"I'd like to bring out some clarifications on what's happened at our airport," he said.
When Blum asked what those were, Hoffman responded by saying he didn't want to reveal them "because you'll defend them."
Marrocco and Ward 2 Alderman Travis Dierker then got involved in the discussion.
"You bet we'll defend them," Marrocco said. "That's what we're supposed to do."
"We're here for our citizens," Dierker said, adding that he, too, will defend the city's decisions.
Blum also responded.
"We're on a course people want us to be on," he said. "That's the direction we're going to take."
The mayor then told Hoffman he can talk to Childers about future agendas, which the city sets to discuss and conduct business that officials believe need to be discussed.
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