New chief for Witham needs neighborly skills

Palm Beach Post Editorial
Monday, August 25, 2003

The man who changed Witham Field from a sleepy, small-town field to an airport busy with noisy jet landings is leaving Martin County for a new job.

Airport Director Michael Moon, who resigned last week after seven years directing unprecedented growth at the airport, would not disclose his destination. He said he will be working at a larger airport in another state.

Since the county hired him in 1996, Mr. Moon has supervised resurfacing of airport runways, built a new administration building and added a security system and a control tower. As those improvements began to draw more air traffic, he also had to deal with airport neighbors unhappy about increasing numbers of jet landings, noise and fumes. County-hired consultants almost have completed a study examining the possibility of moving, closing or downsizing Witham Field, and the county also has built noise-abatement berms near some of the busier runways.

County Administrator Russ Blackburn plans a nationwide search for a new airport director, and he admits that finding someone willing to take charge of the now-controversial facility may be difficult. "I think it's a challenging position," Mr. Blackburn said, "but there are people who like challenges."

In addition to that sterling quality, Mr. Blackburn should look for an airport chief who is a good communicator, both to keep county commissioners updated on airport matters and to work with airport neighbors. Much airport growth was approved quietly in the past, and that should stop. Other problems were neglected. It shouldn't take 400 angry residents crowding commission chambers for commissioners to find out that airport noise is devastating neighborhoods. Airport neighbors shouldn't have to invite officials to a backyard barbecue to show them that life in the flight path of small jets means too much noise to talk, noxious fumes and oil globs dropping from the sky. The new director also could use some experience dealing with the Federal Aviation Administration, particularly if the county opts to fight FAA-mandated growth in the future.

Mr. Moon can't be blamed for all the problems; he follows commission orders. But the new airport director should be someone who will work with the both the commission and the community to decide what the airport will be -- and to make it an excellent neighbor.

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