Anderson most well-used local airport
WWII Navy Trainer Visits Anderson Municipal Airport
A vintage Navy trainer aircraft roared to a stop just outside the hangar. Inside, more than 250 people including Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon, his wife Ann, and State Representative Jack Lutz, were enjoying a breakfast of all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice.
This Fly-In, Cruise-In breakfast hosted by the Anderson Municipal Airport delighted guests who meandered their way though vintage and specialty aircraft as well as classic and hotrod cars.
Municipal is one of the best-utilized amongst local airports according to a recent article in the Muncie Star Press.
"Local airport managers [say] that smaller airports are worth the investment because they relieve air traffic congestion, contribute to the local economy and help communities attract and maintain businesses."
A vintage Navy trainer aircraft roared to a stop just outside the hangar. Inside, more than 250 people including Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon, his wife Ann, and State Representative Jack Lutz, were enjoying a breakfast of all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice.
This Fly-In, Cruise-In breakfast hosted by the Anderson Municipal Airport delighted guests who meandered their way though vintage and specialty aircraft as well as classic and hotrod cars.
Municipal is one of the best-utilized amongst local airports according to a recent article in the Muncie Star Press.
"Local airport managers [say] that smaller airports are worth the investment because they relieve air traffic congestion, contribute to the local economy and help communities attract and maintain businesses."
Southern Madison County Poised for Growth
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Finally, the Herald Bulletin agrees with us:
I-69 will bring plenty of opportunities for good growth and future prosperity, so there is no compelling reason to take the prime interstate-accessible land around Pendleton and Lapel and make a non-taxable airport out of it. In fact, their January 30, 2008, editorial supports this very position.
Our area will need more sources of revenue as property tax relief strips local schools and towns of traditional sources of funding. Divesting ourselves of potential tax revenue by building a redundant airport on prime development land makes no sense at all.
Finally, the Herald Bulletin agrees with us:
"Anderson has taken serious economic hits over the past three decades. Some say we’re not positioned for growth. They would be wrong, and I-69 is the primary reason. When you look at the Flagship Center and various retail and business facilities popping up along the interstate through Madison County, you’re looking at the future."
The Herald Bulletin editorial: Interstate 69 is an avenue to the future
I-69 will bring plenty of opportunities for good growth and future prosperity, so there is no compelling reason to take the prime interstate-accessible land around Pendleton and Lapel and make a non-taxable airport out of it. In fact, their January 30, 2008, editorial supports this very position.
Our area will need more sources of revenue as property tax relief strips local schools and towns of traditional sources of funding. Divesting ourselves of potential tax revenue by building a redundant airport on prime development land makes no sense at all.
The Backlash Has Begun! - Airport Relocation Update 12/03/07
Airport Relocation Update
December 3, 2007
The Backlash has begun ….
We believed there would be reaction to Mr. Ockomon's statement that the SW Madison airport is a "dead issue". We don't know all that is being done behind the scenes, but we do know that in the past 4 days, 3 separate letters have appeared in the Herald Bulletin. These letters not only support the proposed SW Madison airport, but suggest that the discussion should be reopened and shifted to the County level. The HB lead Editorial on Sunday openly criticized Mr. Ockomon for stating, at last Monday's meeting, that the SW Madison airport was "dead."
Please take a minute and read through the following links - don't worry, they're short! But warning: These will make you mad!
"Time for open discussion on airport"
"Dead Issue" is not Ockomon's call"
"Making the same airport mistake"
It is imperative that we nip this in the bud now, before it gains any momentum or inspires Fishers (or our own County officials) to continue on with it's pursuit. We've come too far to slip back now!!!
We are particularly incensed by the HB's editorial which refers to Mr. Ockomon's "brazen" statements. Where were they, we wonder, when the current Mayor brazenly initiated the airport scheme in the first place, approaching Fishers with the offer to close the current Anderson airport and build a new one on land he has no jurisdiction over? We believe Mr. Ockomon did the honorable thing by trying to end the mess the current administration created, and should be praised, not criticized.
So please …. seriously … please take a minute and write to the HB (address below) and let them know how you feel! Mr. Ockomon did us a great service when he declared the airport issue "dead", BUT IT HAS COME AT A COST TO HIM!. Let's thank him - and perhaps express our disappointment in the HB for handling the airport issue in such a biased way - quibbling over semantics when it was they who allowed the current Mayor to promote this for months unfettered.** And PLEASE copy your email letters to our County Commissioners - that way, every letter will "count" even if the HB doesn't print each one.
Herald Bulletin contact info for Letters to the Editor:
Email: Mail:
letters@heraldbulletin.com Letters to the editor
The Herald Bulletin
P.O. Box 1090
Anderson, IN 46015
(You must provide name, address and daytime phone # for verification. Letters should be no more than 250 words. Anything longer would have to be a "Viewpoint" column.)
County Commissioners:
Paul Wilson: pwilson@madisoncty.com
John Richwine jrichwine@madisoncty.com
Pat Dillon pdillon@madisoncty.com
Thanks for you help in this! Your letters will truly help keep the airport out of SW Madison!
NO FLY ZONE/don’t_fly_zone@hotmail.com
** In case it comes up …. From the beginning, we've all maintained that Anderson has no jurisdiction in SW Madison, and have stressed that to any elected official or media person who would listen! In that, we agree with the HB when it states that the airport is a county, not a city, issue. However, we don't believe that Mr. Ockomon was stating otherwise when he, personally, declared the issue "dead". It would seem he was simply ending the discussion the current administration had started, using the parameters the current administration had set.
Mayor-Elect Ockomon: the SW Madison County Airport is 'a dead issue'
Airport Relocation Update
November 27,2007
Thanks to everyone who braved the weather and made their way to the Anderson Airport for last night's meeting! It was a great crowd - some of us even had to park with the planes! But that's okay! The pilots and airport staff were excellent hosts and glad to show us their wonderful facility. And as a group, the NO FLY ZONE was very, VERY well represented; anxious to hear the status of both the Anderson Airport and the SW Madison airport relocation plan.
The new Mayor spoke … and we liked what he had to say:
"Read my lips, the new airport in South West Madison County is a dead issue."
Once the standing ovation died down, and he had donned a "NO FLY ZONE" t-shirt, Mr. Ockomon thanked us for our support. He stated that our area of the County IS growing, and would continue to grow on its own; that there is no need for interference. He firmly believes in the viability and potential of the current Anderson Airport, and invited us to turn what has been for the past 5 months a negative into a positive, by throwing our support behind the current Anderson Airport. Mr. Ockomon's talk was preceded by a wonderful presentation from the Anderson Airport Support Group (AASG - pilots) and by Pete Bitar, President and CEO of Extreme Alternative Defense Systems (XADS) and AirBoyant, detailing some of the many plans they have for the Anderson Airport. Many in Madison County seem not to know what a fine facility we already have. It is deserving of our support and attention.
So, what does this mean? Are we done?
We're still in "wait and see" mode. Fishers Town Council President, Scott Faultless, was asked today for his response to Mr. Ockomon's statement. "If it's dead, it's dead", Faultless replied … but then went on to say Fishers had other options they are looking into. We have our "feelers" out for what those "other options" might be, but given the number of attorneys that sit on the Fishers Town Council, and the money Fishers has invested in Madison County already, our antennae are "up" for possible "end run" maneuvers. To that end …
1) We're encouraging folks to leave the NO FLY ZONE signs up!!
2) We're attending the upcoming BOAC meeting
3) We're attending the next County Commissioners meeting
4) We've assembled 3 complete sets of copies of our Petition Signatures and will deliver one each to the County Commissioners and Anderson City Council. (1607 total signatures !!! Great job everyone!!!)
5) We are consulting with our attorney about our current position and what, if anything, our next move should be.
Our goal from the beginning of this struggle was to end the SW Madison airport possibility now and forever. None of us wants to be fighting this airport again in a month, a year or even ten years. Mr. Ockomon stressed last night that the airport was a dead issue as long as he was Mayor. That is truly GREAT news!!!. But at this point, that is a 4 year guarantee. And there may be ways to accomplish the airport even without Anderson's support - we just don't know.
We've learned from this experience that as an area, we have been identified. Most of our land is unincorporated, and we do live in the fastest growing area of Madison County. For these reasons, we are a target. As we've talked with our attorney, we've been told there are things we can do to lessen our vulnerability. One is "rooftops" - the more buildings that would have to be torn down, the less attractive the airport option. (So …. go ahead and build that Dream House!!) Another is annexation. Rob Sparks, Deputy Mayor of Anderson and Interim Head of the Corporation for Economic Development, has been quoted in the paper confirming that Anderson does intend to annex west and south of the Nestle's area, and a new 385 acre annexation will actually have a hearing on December 13th. As NO FLY ZONE, we don't support or oppose annexation - it's an individual decision and it's not our issue. We have, however, heard some suggest that this will turn into a "pick your partner" situation for our area down the road. What we're saying is, the airport has taught us the need to be pro-active and vigilant in deciding what we each want for our community, and not wait until some entity tries to move in and decide those things for us.
The SW Madison airport seems to be dead for now - let's hope it's forever!!
One final note: This week, as we looked back through all the petitions and signatures … the notes of encouragement … the kind emails … we couldn't help but be proud of the NO FLY ZONE! Our little group (well, okay, 1600 people isn't exactly small!) accomplished quite a bit in just a few months. It's confirmed in us our belief that people do matter. That a small group of dedicated individuals can effect change when they go about it positively. And most importantly, that our voices count just as much - or more - than those of big cities, big business or big money. Thank you for making it happen! YOU'RE THE GREATEST!
We'll be in touch!
NO FLY ZONE/don’t_fly_zone
About the $2.9 million FAA Airport Grant
Announced in the Herald Bulletin on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, this $2.9 million grant has been 10 years in the making. Rather than laying to rest questions about the proposed SW Madison County airport, it actually raises more alarms.
The City of Anderson quietly accepted this grant on September 25, 2007. No public announcement was made. Two days later, Board of Aviation Commissioners President Tony Rogers told the Herald Bulletin he wouldn't attend County Commissioner Paul Wilson's community informational meeting because, “We understand the public’s desire for information, but there are no new substantive facts to present at this early stage.”
The fact is, at this point the City of Anderson was obligated to keep the Anderson Municipal Airport up and running for 20 more years or repay the FAA not only the $2.9 million, but other grant monies previously supplied to the airport. Anderson officials did not want to face the wrath of the southwest Madison County voters who were against the proposed airport, nor the raise the issue of repayment of grant money in the minds of the Anderson taxpayers who would have to shoulder the burden. The announcement of the grant award was suppressed. The original grant announcement should have come through the BOAC to the Herald Bulletin. The Herald Bulletin received no information from the BOAC, so other sources were required to make the news public.
Three days later, the only Anderson official to show up at Commissioner Wilson's October 1st community meeting about the proposed airport was Councilman Rick Muir. He told us how he and most of the other Anderson council members were kept in the dark about the Anderson Administration's airport relocation plan. This was the third meeting convened by Commissioner Wilson for the purpose of informing the local community about the proposed airport. It was the third time that no one in the Smith administration attended one of his meetings.
One day later, on October 2nd, NO FLY ZONE members attended the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners meeting and heard BOAC President Tony Rogers state,
The City had signed a grant document which obligated them to keep the airport open for 20 more years, but a week later, Mr. Rogers couldn't promise it would be open even one more year. Further, he said they were already considering options for the land on the assumption the City would no longer fund the airport.
Ten days later, on Oct. 12, NO FLY ZONE appeared before the Anderson City Council to present more than 1,000 signatures they'd received (within 3 1/2 days) on petitions against the proposed southwest Madison County airport. Council members claimed they were not informed of the project and knew nothing about it. Council president Donna Davis invited Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith to speak to the issue. Instead of citing the grant stipulation that the airport would stay operational for 20 more years, Mayor Smith insisted that he would pursue the issue of a replacement airport in SW Madison County. In fact, Mayor Smith made no mention of the grant at all, leaving NO FLY ZONE members as the sole source of information regarding the FAA grant and its obligations.
On October 17, five days later, Democratic mayoral candidate Kris Ockomon publicly challenged Mayor Smith to tell the audience at a debate forum that he will keep Municipal Airport open. Mayor Smith refused to make that promise and again insisted that he will maintain the course toward development of the relocation airport.
Pursuing a replacement airport will likely cost Anderson taxpayers millions of dollars if Municipal Airport is closed and FAA grants are repaid.
The City of Anderson quietly accepted this grant on September 25, 2007. No public announcement was made. Two days later, Board of Aviation Commissioners President Tony Rogers told the Herald Bulletin he wouldn't attend County Commissioner Paul Wilson's community informational meeting because, “We understand the public’s desire for information, but there are no new substantive facts to present at this early stage.”
The fact is, at this point the City of Anderson was obligated to keep the Anderson Municipal Airport up and running for 20 more years or repay the FAA not only the $2.9 million, but other grant monies previously supplied to the airport. Anderson officials did not want to face the wrath of the southwest Madison County voters who were against the proposed airport, nor the raise the issue of repayment of grant money in the minds of the Anderson taxpayers who would have to shoulder the burden. The announcement of the grant award was suppressed. The original grant announcement should have come through the BOAC to the Herald Bulletin. The Herald Bulletin received no information from the BOAC, so other sources were required to make the news public.
Three days later, the only Anderson official to show up at Commissioner Wilson's October 1st community meeting about the proposed airport was Councilman Rick Muir. He told us how he and most of the other Anderson council members were kept in the dark about the Anderson Administration's airport relocation plan. This was the third meeting convened by Commissioner Wilson for the purpose of informing the local community about the proposed airport. It was the third time that no one in the Smith administration attended one of his meetings.
One day later, on October 2nd, NO FLY ZONE members attended the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners meeting and heard BOAC President Tony Rogers state,
"I can’t tell you this will be an airport next year. I can’t give you that certainty,” Rogers said.
“We are considering what are the options for this land once the city no longer funds it.” (see story in The Herald Bulletin).
The City had signed a grant document which obligated them to keep the airport open for 20 more years, but a week later, Mr. Rogers couldn't promise it would be open even one more year. Further, he said they were already considering options for the land on the assumption the City would no longer fund the airport.
Ten days later, on Oct. 12, NO FLY ZONE appeared before the Anderson City Council to present more than 1,000 signatures they'd received (within 3 1/2 days) on petitions against the proposed southwest Madison County airport. Council members claimed they were not informed of the project and knew nothing about it. Council president Donna Davis invited Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith to speak to the issue. Instead of citing the grant stipulation that the airport would stay operational for 20 more years, Mayor Smith insisted that he would pursue the issue of a replacement airport in SW Madison County. In fact, Mayor Smith made no mention of the grant at all, leaving NO FLY ZONE members as the sole source of information regarding the FAA grant and its obligations.
On October 17, five days later, Democratic mayoral candidate Kris Ockomon publicly challenged Mayor Smith to tell the audience at a debate forum that he will keep Municipal Airport open. Mayor Smith refused to make that promise and again insisted that he will maintain the course toward development of the relocation airport.
Pursuing a replacement airport will likely cost Anderson taxpayers millions of dollars if Municipal Airport is closed and FAA grants are repaid.
County Commissioner Paul Wilson's Community Meeting - Oct. 1st.
Madison County Commissioner Paul Wilson hosted a community meeting about the possible relocation airport on October 1st, 2007, at the Trinity Life Center, at the crossroads of SR 38 and SR13, in Green Township.
In addition to inviting Indianapolis Airport Authority representatives, Mr. Wilson invited Mayor Kevin Smith, the Anderson Common Council, the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners (see
http://www.heraldbulletin.com/archivesearch/local_story_270105349.html, "Airport Board Won't Attend Public Meeting"), the Madison County Board of Commissioners, the Lapel Town Council, The Pendleton Town Council, the Stony Creek Township Advisory Board and Trustee, the Green Township Advisory Board and Trustee, the Frankton-Lapel School Corporation Board of Trustees, the South Madison Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, State Senator Luke Kenley, Senator Tim Lanane, Representative Terri Austin, Representative Scott Reske.
Officials from the towns of Pendleton, and Lapel were present, and school board members from South Madison and Frankton-Lapel were on hand. Anderson City Councilman Rick Muir was the only Anderson official to appear. State officials and all other Anderson City officials were notably absent.
In addition to inviting Indianapolis Airport Authority representatives, Mr. Wilson invited Mayor Kevin Smith, the Anderson Common Council, the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners (see
http://www.heraldbulletin.com/archivesearch/local_story_270105349.html, "Airport Board Won't Attend Public Meeting"), the Madison County Board of Commissioners, the Lapel Town Council, The Pendleton Town Council, the Stony Creek Township Advisory Board and Trustee, the Green Township Advisory Board and Trustee, the Frankton-Lapel School Corporation Board of Trustees, the South Madison Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, State Senator Luke Kenley, Senator Tim Lanane, Representative Terri Austin, Representative Scott Reske.
Officials from the towns of Pendleton, and Lapel were present, and school board members from South Madison and Frankton-Lapel were on hand. Anderson City Councilman Rick Muir was the only Anderson official to appear. State officials and all other Anderson City officials were notably absent.
NO FLY ZONE Signs are a Hot Item!
Yes, we have signs!! By emailing dont_fly_zone@hotmail.com, you can order as many as you like for $9 apiece. You may pick the sign up locally or we may be able to deliver them.
Economic Potential is a hollow promise
Here is the template for the proposed replacement airport. See posts below to compare with what's already on the ground, and make your own evaluation of the true potential for economic development .
Executive Airport Still Awaits Development
You can barely find the outline of this 51-year-old airport among the verdant fields. Owned by Hamilton County Board of Aviation Commissioners, this airport lies only 14 miles NW of Indianapolis.
Whatever happened to "if you build it, they will come"? Photo: 2007
Fledgling airport displays little growth
Situated in rural Hendricks County, this young airport is only 13 miles West of Indianapolis. It is owned by the Indianapolis Airport Authority. In its six years of operation, little - if any - growth has developed around it. Photo: 2007
Mt. Comfort's Open Arms
Mt. Comfort Airport has been nestled in an attractive rural setting for the last 30 years. It is only 12 miles East of Indianapolis and is owned by the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA).
Friday, August 17, the IAA authorized more than $30,000 for a design study to rehabilitate Taxiway "A".
Photo: 2007
To make way for better economic success, Fishers jettisons airport
Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport (Fishers), owned by the Indianapolis Airport Authority, is 46 years old and 8 miles NE of Indianapolis. Blessed with a lucky confluence of I-69, 37 and Geist Reservoir, Fishers saw ballooning growth as Indianapolis sprawled north. Not only did the airport have little to do with the growth, it is actually a hindrance to Fishers' expansion. Surely if the airport were a keystone of their economic success, Fishers would fight to keep it. Instead, they want to be rid of it. No jobs worth keeping, here.Photo: 2007
If you build it, will they come?
Anderson Airport is located 3 miles East of Anderson. Growth around the airport is almost exclusively residential. Owned by the City of Anderson, this 48-year-old airport was built in 1959, and lived through GM's golden age. If it were ever going to develop industry for the City, it would surely have done so by now.
Sadly, it seems to some that the City has willfully neglected this airport.
According to the latest at BOAC, there were 2,513 less flights in 2007 year-to-date than during the same time period in 2006. Airports, therefore, do not equate with jobs on the scale politicians promise. Photo: 2007
South Madison Community School Board Opposes Airport
On Thurday, August 16, the South Madison Community School Board of Trustees voted unanimously to oppose the possible relocation of an airport into Green and Stony Creek Townships in southern Madison County.
Superintendent Dr. Tom Warmke shared information on the possible loss of $114,000 per year in tax support for the school system, at 2006 tax rates.
Board members deplored the secrecy shrouding the entire process. One refused an invitation to a clandestine meeting.
"Good projects come in the front door," said another board member, paraphrasing a comment heard at Commissioner Paul Wilson's July 31st meeting.
Recent aerial photos of five relief airports around the Indianapolis International Airport, including Anderson, Mt. Comfort, Fishers Metropolitan and others, were shown. Though some of the airports have been in place for 30, 51 and 56 years, little development has occurred. The person who distributed the photos commented that only Fishers Airport shows surrounding growth, but that the growth has not been due to the airport; in fact, the Fishers Airport is preventing further growth, which is why Fishers Town Council is trying to get rid of it.
One board member shared her concern that the withdrawal of 4,000 acres from the tax rolls due to airport and TIF grants would cause current taxpayers to shoulder additional tax burden just to keep the school system at its current level.
She also noted scientific research finding that students in schools located within a certain radius of an airport suffered significant drops in reading scores on standardized tests. Since the Board had recently voted to spend $500,000 on a state-of-the-art reading improvement program, it was critical to oppose a project which could nullify the positive effects of the program.
Superintendent Dr. Tom Warmke shared information on the possible loss of $114,000 per year in tax support for the school system, at 2006 tax rates.
Board members deplored the secrecy shrouding the entire process. One refused an invitation to a clandestine meeting.
"Good projects come in the front door," said another board member, paraphrasing a comment heard at Commissioner Paul Wilson's July 31st meeting.
Recent aerial photos of five relief airports around the Indianapolis International Airport, including Anderson, Mt. Comfort, Fishers Metropolitan and others, were shown. Though some of the airports have been in place for 30, 51 and 56 years, little development has occurred. The person who distributed the photos commented that only Fishers Airport shows surrounding growth, but that the growth has not been due to the airport; in fact, the Fishers Airport is preventing further growth, which is why Fishers Town Council is trying to get rid of it.
One board member shared her concern that the withdrawal of 4,000 acres from the tax rolls due to airport and TIF grants would cause current taxpayers to shoulder additional tax burden just to keep the school system at its current level.
She also noted scientific research finding that students in schools located within a certain radius of an airport suffered significant drops in reading scores on standardized tests. Since the Board had recently voted to spend $500,000 on a state-of-the-art reading improvement program, it was critical to oppose a project which could nullify the positive effects of the program.
Future Lapel School Board meetings
The school board meetings will be held at different schools
through November, possibly longer, due to the remodeling of the central office.
Just check with the office before each meeting to find the location.
Thanks to one of our correspondents for this information. We believe the Board
meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. If this is
in error, please email dont_fly_zone@hotmail.com with the correct information.
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