Eckels/Privacy Release Form and CorrespondenceF
P R I V �A; Y R E L E A, S E F 0 R I-
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before I can make an inquiry on your behalf and/or receive any information to complete your
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ke inquiries to the appropriate parties on my behalf.
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resolve your problem. Please print or type. Please send only copies of documents — do not send
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May 17, 2012
Steve Eckels
20 White Bark Lane
Kalispell, MT 59901
406-257-6878
www. guitarmusicman.com
Dear Senator Baucus:
The citizens of Kalispell are urgently seeking oversight into the matter of a
potential expansion of the municipal airport in the middle of a densely
populated and growing part of town.
The aviation association is trying to push the expansion through without the
customary voter referendum or conditional use permit because they know
that the expansion lacks popular support.
The main thing we need answered in writing is:
"Will the FAA fund a project that does not have community support`?'
There are also secondary questions involving 1) conflict of interest with the
engineering firm involved and 2) duplication of services with Glacier
International Airport.
We would like the primary question answered if possible before the City
Council meets this Monday, May 21 to make a decision on weather to
expand or not.
I have attached the letter that I would like forwarded to the FAA at the
highest levels, and a letter referencing a New York Times article that
articulates the potential downside of an expansion. The reason for seeking
oversight from the FAA in Washington/Seattle is that the FAA in Helena is
to closely allied with the engineering firm involved.
Thank you very much for your help with the communication process.
Sincerely, °
Steve Eckels
To: FAA
From: Steve Eckels, "Quiet Skies Citizen's Committee", Kalispell,
Montana
Dear Sir:
Is it true that the FAA will not fund a project that does not have
community support?
The aviation community in Kalispell, Montana, in cooperation with
Stelling Engineers, and the FAA in Helena, are trying to push through
a 16 million dollar expansion of the city airport without support of the
residents of Kalispell.
I back up my assertion with the following facts:
1. The aviation community has tried to block, or discourage,
the city council from holding a voter referendum on the matter, even
though many residents have requested one. The airport manager is
also trying to by-pass the standard conditional use permitting process
required on new construction projects.
2. The aviation community is basing their argument for
expansion on a study done by Stelling Engineers. Because we are a
small town, Stelling Engineers also stands to gain the contract for an
expansion, and many residents feel that this is a conflict of interest.
To make matters worse, the brother of Mr. Stelling works for the FAA
in Helena. That is why I am contacting you directly.
3. In this era of austerity, many citizens feel that to invest 16
million dollars on a city airport in the middle of a densely populated
area, when there is a superb airport, Glacier International Airport,
only five miles away, is an example of "duplication of services" and
wasteful spending.
Our the previous official contact with the FAA in Helena was Mr. Dave
Gabbert who in a letter to our mayor dated January 7, 1997 stated
that there were many problems pursuing expansion of the airport in
the middle of a growing city "especially lack of community support".
The current FAA contact in Helena is Mr. Gary Gates, who we feel is
not in touch with the needs of the community at large, and whose
allegiance is with Stelling Engineers and the local aviators.
am writing on behalf of the majority of residents who would
appreciate your oversight into the matter.
Our city council is meeting on May 27 to make a decision on
expansion. Your input before that time could prove helpful. If you
would like more information, please let me know.
You may also wish to contact our Mayor - Tammy Fisher
citycouncil (LDkalispell.com
In the short term, could you please give a simple answer to the
following questions?
1) Will the FAA fund an airport expansion that does not have
the popular support of the community?
2) Can you address the possible conflict of interest with
Stelling Engineers as mentioned above?
3) What is your position on the "duplication of services"
regarding Glacier International Airport?
We would appreciate your prompt reply very much.
You may your reply directly to me, and please send a copy of your
response to the chairman of our citizen's group:
Scott Davis
maxwellsnortsnort@ live.com
Sincerely,
Steve Eckels
PS. Our citizen's group was formed at the special request of a city
councilman, a sergeant on the police force, and a local urban planner
who were concerned that the aviation association was exerting an
unbalanced influence on the city government.
Fnr.)rn: Scott Davis <maxwellsnortsnort@live.com>
Sub,,=ie QUIET SKIES
Lp= ,de: May 11, 2012 9:49:40 AM MDT
Mayor Fisher and City Council:
I would like to direct your attention to two articles in the New York Times that serve as a
cautionary tale about over -reliance on promises made in regard to FAA funding. The first article,
"Storm Gathers Over Resort Town's Airport" appeared March 29, 2002. The similarities with
articles running in our local papers regarding the proposed city airport are uncanny. Especially
relevant are the claim of proponents in favor of accepting $30 million from the FAA for the
Mammoth Lakes' city airport expansion about the economic boon the project will have for the
community. Also germane are the assurances of FAA officials in regard to the availability $30
million for the project.
Fast forward ten years to April 13, 2012 for an up -date on this story in the NYT article,
"Mammoth Lakes, CA Faces Bankruptcy". The story describes how the city is looking at declaring
bankruptcy because nothing about that project turned out the way proponents of the project
presented it to the community ten years earlier. Today the city of Mammoth Lakes cannot pay a
$43 million legal judgment in a development dispute that are rooted in FAA funding that failed to
come through as promised as well as serious restrictions on the use of the limited FAA funds that
did come through.
Sadly, the city of Mammoth Lakes has been forced to cut its work force from 130 to 70.
Moreover, all projects the city had planned in coming years have been put on hold indefinitely.
One resident is quoted as saying, "I have a couple of young kids, and I'm worried about the
schools." Others describe the ill-fated decision to purse the airport expansion as "tragic".
Before making your decision in regard to the airport expansion I urge you to make sure you
have done the math and weighed the downside of this project. Is it worth putting so much for so
many at risk when the anticipated benefits are so small and accrue to so few?
Respectfully,
James Loran
29 8th Street East
Kalispell, MT 59901