Bassin previews airport resolution

Below is the draft resolution which Ancram Superviosr Art Basin intends to present to the County Board tomorrow (Wednessday) night at 401 State Street, following an informational meeting hurriedly arranged by Chairman Pat Grattan. An article in today’s Register-Star announcing the meeting neglected to give the time that it starts; the clerk of the Board tells me it is scheduled for 5 pm, but is not sure if it will be on the 3rd Floor or in the ground floor chambers.

Resolution to Temporarily Table Actions to Expand the Airport Safety Zone Until Certain Additional Information Is made Available to the Public and to Members of the Board of Supervisors 

1. Whereas, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors has, by resolution,  previously endorsed the 2003 Airport Master Plan, The 2011 Airport Business Plan, and approved purchasing from Carmen Nero and his partners, certain land to expand the Columbia County airport safety zone, and
2. Whereas, Mr. Nero has declined the County’s offer to purchase such land, and
3. Whereas, the County has authorized seeking proposals for attorney’s to represent the County in a possible eminent domain process, and
4. Whereas, it is not clear that the County is required by the FAA to either expand the airport safety zone or shorten the runway if we decide not to expand the airport safety zone, and
5. Whereas it is not clear that, if the County is required to shorten the runway, the resulting consequences on the County or Richmor would be material, and 
6. Whereas, it is not clear that the $8 million to $13 million of Airport investments proposed in the 2011 County Airport Business Plan are necessary, desirable  prudent or economically justifiable, and
7. Whereas, the future economic development benefits of expanding the airport safety zone or making between $8 million and $13 million in investments at the Airport have not been defined, and  
8. Whereas, the County has received a series of FOIL requests and questions from residents and Supervisors regarding the Airport Business Plan in general and the need to expand the Airport safety zone in particular, which have not yet been responded to, 

THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED THAT: 

1. All resolutions previously approved by the Columbia County Board of Supervisors authorizing the negotiated purchase of land from Carmen Nero and partners, or the use of eminent domain to take land from Mr. Nero to expand the Airport safety zone are hereby rescinded, and all previous authorizations to purchase or take of land from Mr. Nero are withdrawn, and
2. All efforts to initiate an eminent domain process, including the hiring of attorney’s to advise on or participate in an eminent domain process shall immediately cease, and
3. The County Attorney and the Commissioner of Economic Development, working with and seeking information from other County Managers, Richmor, the authors of the 2003 Airport Master Plan and the 2011 Airport Business Plan,  and the FAA, will respond to all outstanding FOIL requests and questions from Supervisors and others in writing, and
4. The County Board of Supervisors will be presented with formal, written responses to the questions recently raised about expanding the Airport safety zone, and
5. The County FOIL officer will notify the Board of Supervisors when all FOIL requests have been responded to, and will make available to members of the Board of Supervisors all FOIL requests related to the Airport and the County’s responses to them, and

 IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE 

1. The County BOS will review and decide on the matter of expanding the airport safety zone either by negotiated purchase or eminent domain based on more complete information based on the responses to the Airport FOIL requests that are outstanding, and based on answers to the questions raised by Supervisors and others.