"Plane Facts"
WAAM's Weekly Update
Friday June 6, 2003
This Week
Galaxy Aviation Lease Extension
The Galaxy Aviation request for another lease extension comes before the Martin County Board of County Commissioners
(MCBCC) this Tuesday, June 10th. This agenda item, 8A1, is not at a preset time. This means it will most likely be
discussed and voted on sometime in the afternoon.
WAAM supports a freeze on new lease modifications (staff recommendation alternative #2) until the MCBCC can finalize current pending policy initiatives and we will speak against this lease extension at the BOCC meeting on Tuesday June 10th.
Our primary objections are:
1) Extending the lease violates this County Commission's stated Strategic Goal of stopping airport growth.
2) Why extend the lease at this time? The current lease expires in 2014 and already has an option for extending the lease for another 10 years to the year 2024. This request for another 8-year option would extend the current lease to 2032.
3) Extending the lease at this time makes no sense when the Airport Exploratory Study (AES) preliminary results will be released the week of June 23rd. The AES will provide guidance on leases and other growth related issues.
4) Extending the lease at this time prejudices the impending results of the AES.
We ask: "Why now?"
Make your voice heard!
Object to this additional lease extension option!
Long Term Contract at the Airport? Again we ask, why
now?
WAAM board members have met with County staff and objected strongly to the timing and scope of a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting an airport planning contractor for a 3-5 year contract with the purposes stated below:
"Scope of Services: Includes, but is not limited to: professional services for implementation of the Airport's 150 Study, facilitation of the Part 150 Noise Advisory Committee, development of arrival and departure procedures, noise monitoring sampling, modifications for the Airport Master Plan, and pollution sampling and testing."
"Estimated project cost: $150,000"
We are concerned that this bid process is being initiated prior to the conclusion of the Airport Exploratory Study (AES). It is not logical or appropriate that a bid is being solicited NOW for a long-term contract on airport projects when we are on the verge of obtaining data that will provide guidance for future direction of the Martin County Airport.
What's the rush? Why not wait?
After all, the bulk of this contract proposal addresses issues that are a minimum of 2 years away. The timing of this bid process demonstrates an insensitivity to the concerns of negatively impacted citizens who are waiting for information on the other possible options to be revealed in the AES.
One airport planning firm that appears to have the inside track on this long-term contract is the MEA Group. We have
previously referred Mr. Moon and County staff to members of the community who have worked with and had experience
with the MEA Group and have voiced their concerns regarding the acceptability of this contractor.
The RFP wording, the time allowed to submit a proposal, and the makeup of the Selection Committee has narrowed the
selection process and, in our opinion, unfairly favors the MEA group.
The following are excerpts from WAAM's formally submitted letter to Martin County in objection to the MEA Group:
"While paying lip-service to the public, MEA has a documented history of limiting citizen input in advisory groups and decision making. This was reported to the County with regard to the Martin County Airport departure study. This apparent disregard for the concerns of the people affected by increasing aircraft noise and pollution shows a pro-aviation bias that does not inspire confidence."
"MEA's organization of the WG of 16 people did not include members of the negatively impacted citizens, but did include flight school representatives. This is like setting the fox to mind the henhouse. Decisions will be made by this committee that will affect thousands of currently unprotected citizens for years to come. They deserve to have a voice in these life-altering decisions."
You can read this letter in its entirety on our website by clicking on this link:
Link to June 2, 2003 Letter of Objection
Airport Exploratory Study
The voting records of Commissioners DiTerlizzi, Smith, and Weberman continue to bias the Airport Exploratory Study (AES). Their support of airport interests is clearly to the detriment of many people in Martin County. Remember, the Airport is the single largest polluter in Martin County and continues to be an insidious blight on the health and welfare of our families.
The preliminary results of the AES are due to be released on June 23, yet these three commissioners continue to vote in a manner that supports airport expansion. Their choices make a mockery of both the AES underway and contradict their stated goal of no growth.
Information and Updates section on the WAAM website
What does it mean when you are told that your home is going to be purchased or insulated as a result of the FAR 150
We feel this is such an important issue that we invite you to visit our website and read this once again. This is the road map that leads to the destruction of your neighborhood.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Continues to Battle Aircraft Noise Restrictions at Airports
In their zeal to protect aircraft owners and pilots, the stated position by AOPA as quoted below shows this organization's disregard for the general public.
Here is the position the AOPA took on an airport in Minnesota proposing restrictions banning Stage 1 or Stage 2 Jets between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am.
"AOPA strongly opposes the proposed restrictions because we believe they fail to meet the requirements of FAR Part 161 and are unjustly discriminatory aircraft access restrictions to a federally funded airport."
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In a continuing effort to keep our membership informed on airport issues, WAAM publishes a quarterly newsletter, periodic
email updates, notices in local newspapers, a bi-monthly newspaper feature called
"Plane Talk" and a weekly email update called
"Plane Facts".
WAAM also maintains a website that covers airport issues in detail. You will find a wealth of information on our website.
This is your website and we welcome any comments you might have to make it even better and more informative. The
website has links to other sites to help you better understand the issues. You can also explore what other communities are
doing to combat the growing problem of airport growth in cities throughout the United States. To visit the WAAM website,
click on the link below.
Notice
If you have received this email in error and wish to be removed from our email database, contact us and you will be removed. We are only interested
in informing those who are interested in environmental and airport issues, particularly those that affect Martin County Residents. If you wish to be
removed, send an email me to bdshore@adelphia.net. Put remove in the subject line. Thank you.