Anderson, Z/Kalispell City Airport-Pro Airport UpgradeCouncil Members,
I’m writing to you as a supporter of the City Airport. It is my
observation that you are taking a lot of information from many different
individuals concerning the airport. I have three areas that I want to
provide my views on.
Before I get into details I will tell you a little about myself. I was
born in the “Old” Kalispell Regional Hospital in 1973, I’m 36 years old.
I currently reside in Bigfork, Montana, where I went to kindergarten
through 12th grade. I graduated from Montana State University(Bozeman)
in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering
Technology. I am a third generation Journeymen Bricklayer and Masonry
Contractor. I am a husband and father of two kids. I hold a private
pilot certificate which I earned in 1991 from Strand Aviation at the
Kalispell City Airport. Since then I have added a Glider rating, an
instrument rating and a Multi-Engine rating to my license. Private
Pilot Privileges allow me to use my license for personal and business
use only, which translates to “not for compensation” flights only. I
have ownership in a single engine airplane(Cessna 206) and a twin engine
airplane(Beech Baron) both of which are based at the City Airport and
are kept in hangers that we own and have signed fifteen year leases with
the City of Kalispell. We use both of these airplanes for business of
which we employ roughly five to ten people that live inside of the City.
I also am the President of the Glacier Eagles Soaring Club that is
currently based on the City Airport. I have been a member of this club
since its inception in 1990. Over the years I have spent countless
hours volunteering my time for several “Fathers Day” Glider ride days as
a tow pilot and as a club member. I have seen people get out of that
glider for the first flight of their life. The Kalispell City Airport
is where this took place. My wife is also a pilot whom recently passed
her Private Pilot check ride after receiving instruction from Red Eagle
Aviation in 2009.
My first Point/Question is this:
1)Do I need to live inside the Kalispell City Limits in order to have my
voice heard regarding the City Airport?
NO! In order to vote on a measure that is put on the city ballot, Yes,
I must live inside the city limits. I would like to point out how much
we(Mount Cleveland development LLC.-Zack Anderson, Ian Anderson, Scott
Harrison) pay in leases and property taxes to the City of Kalispell for
the hangers we own. In 2008-2009, we paid $920.00 in leases and
$6,807.00 in taxes to the City of Kalispell. Some have been quoted
saying “the airport is for the rich and famous”. I say, it is for the
people who own businesses and pay the majority of the Taxes, that the
City needs to be able to exist. If one uses the logic that only City
Residences should have any say or vote to influence the Kalispell City
Council then why don’t they say that since Cars and Trucks make noise as
they drive down the City Streets, that all of the streets should be
closed completely due to noise and Safety Concerns? Airplanes have been
using the City’s Airport for ¾ of a century bringing supplies, sick
people and outside business people to the City for years. You need to
remember, these people and these flights have helped make the City of
Kalispell prosperous then and now. They may not have been a resident of
the City, but they sure spent money here and brought commerce to the
City. As you grow in your decision about what is the right decision
regarding the Airport consider this; If the City was to exist on the
taxes collected from the City Residents alone, who long would the City
be in Business? I ask you to listen to the Business owners and Property
owners(Me) in your City, as well as the few “Opponents” of the airport.
The noise from the airplanes using this airport has only decreased in
the years since it was first used. The individuals who are opposed to
the Airport are simply ignoring the fact that the airport was there long
before they were there.
2)Is the current Kalispell City Airport Safe?
NO! The current Kalispell City Airport is a liability to the City
unless the proposed upgrades are completed immediately. I currently
make four take-offs and landings per week at this airport and find it
very much unsafe. In the past I have observed pilots making hazardous
maneuvers to avoid a collision with the 200 foot tall towers. These
towers need to be removed prior to this next summer when we are again
flying the glider. The towers pose a serious threat to the safety of
Both the tow plane pilot and the glider pilot during the critical time
shortly after takeoff to the south. Also, It is a huge safety concern
of mine as pilot in command of my airplane, to spend the lengthy amount
of time over the City while flying the approach to land to the south.
The way the runway is aligned, I am forced to fly low and slow over the
city in order to land without risking running off the end of the short
runway. The proposed re-alignment and the lengthening will resolve both
of these concerns. I ask you to please move forward with the badly
needed upgrades that are proposed prior to the unfortunate chance that
an airplane does have an accident and we lose innocent lives on the
ground and in the air. These upgrades will decrease the City’s
Liability.
3)Should the Airport be Relocated?
NO! The unhappy people who have chosen to purchase property/live near
the Airport need to relocate. The Airport is comparable to Woodland
park. It is used by everyone who chooses to use it. The City Airport
is a Public Airport and thus everyone has the right to choose whether
they want to use it or not use it. I don’t use Woodland Park but at the
same time I have no interest in seeing it closed or relocated. If some
individuals think that the Airport property should be used for something
else such as a Ferris Wheel, wouldn’t one of those fit nicely in
Woodland Park? This Airport is very similar to the airports in Great
Falls, Helena, Missoula, Billings and Spokane. They all were originally
built in a field far outside the city. The cities eventually built out
to the Airport and surrounded the Airport property. If the Airport is
relocated, what makes you think that the neighboring property owners in
the fields far from the city are going to want an airport placed next to
them and be happy about it? They chose to live in the country so they
didn’t have to live next to an Airport. The opponents of this Airport
upgrade chose to live in the city, NEAR, the airport. It appears to me
that now they want to have the luxury of City amenities, and have a
Country standard of living. They are crying to you to solve their
dilemma, but they chose to live in the city, the airport was chosen to
be where it is long before these folks were here. I suggest that you
consider the total cost to the City if the airport was to be moved.
Buying out existing leases, paying for new hangers to be built and
paying for new infrastructure to the new airport just to name a few. If
closing the Airport or leaving it the way it is happens to be your
choice, would you also consider closing or relocating the Center Mall?
The mall is a enterprising establishment, but a Ferris Wheel would sure
work there as well. The Airport is a necessity to the City in the same
context as the Mall and Woodland Park. The Airport not only needs to
stay it needs to be made safer!
In summary, I see four options: Leave the Airport as it is, Close it,
Upgrade it or Relocate it. If left as it is, the clock is ticking and
without upgrades, someone is going to lose their life. Close it and you
lose a profitable enterprise in the City. Upgrade it and lives will be
saved and the city has an enterprising asset. Relocate it and you are
going to be paying out huge amounts of money and losing an asset to the
City. Please, make the safe decision and support the proposed
realignment and upgrades immediately before someone gets killed or
injured due to the unsafe conditions present at this time. There is no
need for anymore environmental studies, they have been done redundantly
and all point in the same direction.
Thanks for your time and I look forward to your good and prompt judgment
regarding this important matter.
I would like to request acknowledgement of this letter by each council
member.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any question or comments.
Regards,
Zack Anderson
Anderson Masonry Inc.
President/Project Manager
7393 Highway 35
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 837-7730 Fax (406) 837-7731
email: zack@andersonmasonryinc.com <mailto:zack@andersonmasonryinc.com>
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