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Copyright ©2003 PCDA
February 2, 2000 - Representatives from Mason, Lincoln, Cabell and Putnam Counties called it a "significant milestone," Wednesday evening at a meeting of the "Just in Time" committee at New Horizons Computer Learning Center at Putnam Plaza Shopping Center. Seven State Legislators were included in the crowd. What they were discussing was the recent release of the Financial Feasibility Study to the West Virginia Public Port Authority.
4th District Sen. Robert Dittmar and 15th District Delegate Margarette R. Leach talk with committee members about the next steps to be taken to assure that supporters of the regional airport in Lincoln County have a voice in the decision-making process.
Representatives of the consultants and WV Port Authority are scheduled to meet with the Senate Finance Committee tomorrow (Thurs. 2/3/00) to answer questions about the Financial Feasibility Study and what steps are to be taken next.
Lincoln County EDA Director Shelley Huffman reported that a letter was received from the Kanawha County Commission stating that $5,000 from the county's general fund was provided to Yeager Airport for an "economic impact study" to determine what impacts could result from the construction and operation of a new regional airport facility. Huffman also reported that $45,000 from the Kanawha County's hotel/motel tax was given to the airport by designating the Central West Virginia Airport Authority as the Convention & Visitor's Bureau for Kanawha County. One could ask why these funds were provided to the airport authority when Charleston has a Convention & Visitor's Bureau that is supposed to be promoting the area to visitors. Is the Kanawha County Commission unhappy with the services provided by the Charleston Convention & Visitor's Bureau?
Huffman also pointed out that a letter from Yeager Airport's Director confirmed that in late May, 1999 twenty-five cents was added to the parking rates at Yeager Airport to fight a regional airport. It was suggested that a billboard be purchased notifying drivers that the increased parking fees that airport passengers were paying was being used to fight a regional airport. Huffman suggested that in excess of $600,000 had been spent by Yeager Airport supporters to defeat a new regional airport.
It was suggested that copies of the Financial Feasibility Study be made available to local businesses in an attempt to "get the facts" out to the public. Many possibilities were discussed concerning development of a funding mechanism to bring to light the other side of the story. Committee members seemed to be in consensus about the importance of work to counter the negative publicity and mis-information produced by Yeager Airport supporters so that the facts can be made available to the public.
Putnam County Commission President James Caruthers explains the need to organize as a "legal entity" in order to fully support the efforts to construct the new Lincoln County regional airport.
Committee members were elated to learn that the Financial Feasibility Study proves not only the "feasibility" but the "do-ability" of the new airport. It was suggested that the regional airport could become a reality by 2006, the study is a "significant milestone" in the fight for a regional airport that could enhance the economic viability of the entire region and be a "good viable project...good for West Virginia." The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at New Horizons Computer Learning Center in the Putnam Plaza Shopping Center, just off Exit 39, Scott Depot Exit on I-64.
For further information, please contact: Shelley Huffman at (304) 824-3838