PUBLIC HEARING ON AIRPORT

[jean]

PLEASE LISTEN TO THE WTRE INTERVIEWS ON THE AIRPORT TODAY...IT WAS JUST ON THE 11 AM NEWS AND IF THEY KEEP THE SCHEDULE THEY HAVE BEEN IT WILL ALSO BE ON THE NOON AND 5 PM NEWS EDITION.

TODAY FEATURED RANDY FRYE - Randy seems to be coming to his senses that there are many people who do NOT want this airport expanded at the current location as he backed off quite a bit with what he said for the WTRE interview! i might have to vote for him again after this...he might actually be listening. Now if we can just get Messer and Chip Perfect to realize the same thing as well as any others that jumped on this train without knowing all the pertinent information.

the other interview was with the representative of Butler, Fairman and Seyfert who the airport board has hired to propel this project forward. He tried to justify this proposed expansion by saying the Farmers will utilize this expansion too with crop spraying! Talk about cutting hairs....the Crop Sprayers CURRENTLY are using our airport to do spraying of farm crops and are quite a large part of the fuel purchases at the CURRENT airport as it is....that is no justification to expand this airport in an unwanted area and most especially they have never proved the "NEED" to do this. They have done no "RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT" or operational studies to see what the costs incurred will be when they try to expand this from 32 to over 200 acres and have to comply with the FAA compliances that will come with the grant money they potentially could receive.

[jean]

i just received this commentary on Jon Dooley's WTRE interview today concerning the airport boards proposed expansion and it is on target ........

Here is their commentary:

My issue is when he said they (assuming BOAC) are looking forward 20, 30, 40 years into the future.

It they were truly looking that far into the future, then they would try to completely revamp the airport project...move it away from the houses and recreational areas...and maybe consider moving it closer to the interstate...after all why not put it near the rail and the interstate so that all those economic infrastructures can work together...not have them spread all over the county. Honda site for example has interstate and rail right in their back door...not across town. And...if this is truly a 20-30-40 year future project, then BOAC needs to talk to other local officials who seem hell-bent on keeping people (residents who would pay local taxes anyway) out of the community...I say this based on the fact that I've personally heard county representatives express that they don't want farm ground used as residential, that doing so takes away from our agricultural heritage and creates conflict between the two land uses. I also say this because, in general, this community has a sense that a student hasn't really succeeded unless they go to college and then move somewhere else. There is little incentive and certainly little reward in moving home with your college education...I know people who have a college education and opted to come home (Greensburg/Decatur County) only to find their had to drive to another, larger community for a good-paying job, had to take a manufacturing job, which they likely could have gotten without the expense and wasted 4 years of going to college in the first place, or settle for a medium-paying job, making less that their high school classmates who went directly to the factory to work...or went directly to work on their daddy's farm. Heck, if they are truly looking 20-30-40 years into the future, they might realize that air travel as an economic tool really won't be needed on the smaller scale (i.e. smaller than Indy/Chicago, etc.) because products can be made using 3-D printers right on site for those JIT situations...and we don't need to fly now to locations for business as often as people might think because of technology like Skype. Let's face it...some of the stuff we say on the Jetson's as kids and thought we'd never see in our lifetime is already here...has been for quite some time...and more is already developed that isn't commercially available yet, but will be in the next 20-30-40 years. We've got cars, and tractor-trailers, that can drive themselves with little interaction by the "driver." We've got warehouses where robots pull the products for shipping and little human "picker" need. Automation and technology is growing my leaps and bounds...and they just want to make the runway bigger for the same ol' same ol'...and least that's the presentation I saw during the public meeting. We're just making the runway bigger. Where's the innovation? Where's the using the land for x-y-z development or for x-y-z technology training/testing? I defer to Mr. Goddard's comment...this is pure speculation and utter nonsense.

[jean]

The next airport board meeting is Monday night July 24th at 7 pm at City Hall. Please try to attend to express your disagreement with this proposed expansion.

I would also like to address Jon Dooleys comments about this proposed expansion project as far as him saying on his WTRE interview that was played on 7/21/17 on the 11 and noon news. Jon Dooley said the airport board has been open and above board and how they welcome any and all questions. and comments. (paraphrased).

let's start with the fact that the landowners whose land is in jeopardy of eminent domain found out about this project when airport board hired professionals were caught trespassing on their land without permission.

now let's look at a video presentation of Brack Rayles presenting some statistics to Jon Dooley and the airport board. Note when watching this Jon's reaction to Brack's presentation and how he says they are going to have famed economist Morton Marcus do their economic study (talking down to Brack)....which they never did. When asked at a later date when we could expect that study, Jon Dooley said he was ill and wasn't going to be able to do it. ( i checked and he did many other projects after Jon stated this to me.....I also suggested they get another person to do it with no answer from Jon.)

Brack Rayles presents statistics to the airport board / Jon Dooley:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY-0gVQQ80Y&feature=youtu.be

Now let's hear from then City Councilman Herb Hunter on why members of the City Council wanted to hire their own attorney with Herb stating his reason was based on what he considered a letter of "intimidation" from the attorney representing the airport board.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbFmHTbCYqU

Listen to councilman Bill Wenning express his opinion on this proposed project and be sure to hear former Mayor Herbert tell the crowd if there was another outburst that he would take action to stop the meeting.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yGlTQl1Ntg&feature=youtu.be

I approached the airport board about pursuing a "regional" airport with Batesville. Jon Dooley dismissed my idea stating they had already checked that out and that Batesville wanted it located over there and we want it here so we cannot come together on this. I found that intriguing especially since the concept was re-introduced by Mr. Smiley at the Public hearing...and it was also interesting that a very nice management person from Batesville aviation was present at the meeting and handing out her cards and working the room. Also present was the Batesville radio station covering our Public Hearing on this proposed expansion.

At the time this following meeting took place i had been writing a series of "opinion" articles that were published in the Greensburg Daily News called the Humble Rumble. The Airport Board did a surprise "inquisition" at me when i was videotaping their meeting . Then you will see a copy of the Editorial that the Greensburg Daily News published about this meeting and how it was conducted. The inquisition starts at the beginning of the 3rd link of this series but i have put them all here so you can see them in full content if you wish. I think this is a perfect example of how you are welcome to make comments and ask questions of this board.

09/28/09 meeting of the Board of Aviation Commissioners (BOAC)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6OzMtdmYUk

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxkcVOKfetg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIBBcH54T6k

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8qgdpYs2k

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yaqIqEbWZo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgJKcYn_jJI

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyjJhU16o24


Here is the Greensburg Daily News Editorial

Greensburg Daily News Editorial about the 09/28/09 meeting

Rhetoric Takes Flight At Airport Board Meeting
Published October 05, 2009 12:58 pm


During last Monday's abrasive inquisition by Board of Airport Commissioners Bill Ernstes and Dr. Jon Dooley during the BOAC's public meeting, nothing could have put the icing on the cake more than if Sen. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) had been sitting next to Daily News guest columnist Jean Johannigman in the crowd of public attendees. It would have added the perfect ending to the embarrassing rhetoric and bullying had Sen. Wilson turned to Johannigman and punctuated the evening by shouting his now infamous line in her face.

"You lie!"

Dr. Samuel Johnson - 16th century linguist, author and literary critic - once wrote: "He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." To further this quote, Johnson simply meant those who forget all civility in the face of the public shed both consequence and conscience, which dictates our social behavior and, for public officials, holds them accountable to the people.

Both Mr. Ernstes and Dr. Dooley are public officials, appointed by the Mayor of our city to conduct business for a specific board for the good of the people. It is good to remember that, gentlemen, before the beast emerges.

What should have been a 15- to 20-minute meeting turned into a shameful scene lasting nearly an hour of "he said, she said" and finger-pointing as the two tried to dispel the "smokescreen" cast by

Johannigman's countless columns on the airport expansion project and explain what they believe to be "facts" into the public realm.

We'll applaud the two commissioners - as the others stayed fairly silent - for finally speaking their minds, adding a counterpoint to Johannigman and enlightening all present with the missing information regarding the debate on the issue.

However, we disagree with the manner in which it was done and the forum where it took place. The Daily News has offered the board and Mayor Herbert the opportunity to offer a rebuttal to Johannigman's columns countless times. So far we have not received any comments or they have refused to clarify themselves on the issues addressed in her columns.

Instead, it was an onslaught on a citizen who had the audacity to speak her mind against public officials funded by our taxpayers in an open meeting, in which she was given little opportunity to defend herself. The degradation included the Daily News as well for printing her columns and other asides about 'why such and such' had never been covered.

Johannigman was approved to author her opinion column due to her position as a community leader and local business person. Johannigman is outspoken, attends all the government meetings and remains a free voice in and for the community. The airport expansion project is close to her heart, with the bulk of her columns about that subject. It is her desire to ensure the community is not hoodwinked by a bunch of airplane enthusiasts.

The Daily News is not saying that is the case. In fact, we don't agree with everything she says on the opinion page, although we can say she is an adept researcher. The Daily News does not necessarily agree with every word printed on the opinion page as we are sure our readers do not. The opinion page exists so you, our readers, can be made aware of both sides of an issue.

It is the spectrum of viewpoints that individuals and a community must consider, allowing a person to use their intelligence and free will to either accept or reject those viewpoints, which help make us well-rounded citizens. That is our freedom as Americans, and one of the many functions of our newspaper.

The issue of whether the airport expansion is good for the community or moreover, is something the community wants, remains to be seen. You can voice your opinion on the Daily News Website, through our opinion poll found at the bottom of the homepage. We hope everyone in the community votes in this poll since it seems only about a few people care about this project. This small group of concerned citizens are fighting over something that could have an impact on all of us.

We encourage Mr. Ernstes, Dr. Dooley, other board members, as well as Mayor Herbert to clarify any misconceptions by responding with either their opinions or simply state the facts and show how and where they can be proven. Don't attack citizens for speaking their mind. Don't become a beast on the taxpayers' dime.

END OF GDN EDITORIAL


in summation remember this quote from a economics professional:

"Three-quarters of general-aviation airports lose money every year and stay solvent only with cash from local taxpayers, says Vitaly Guzhva, a finance professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida."

usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-09-17-little-used-airports_N.htm

[jean]

Airport expansion opposition speaks up

By James Howell Jr. Daily News
9 hrs ago

Airport expansion opposition speaks up
Photo courtesy of Google MapsThe current airport situated in the top middle of the photo covers 32 acres of the land. The proposed expansion would cover more than 200 acres of land.
GREENSBURG — “Enough is enough.”
That is what multiple Decatur County residents are saying about the proposed airport expansion following the latest public hearing on the expansion and environmental assessment, June 29.
Many of those opposed gathered together in downtown Greensburg recently to share with each other what they know and what they want to have done.
Lack of need
Those in opposition have openly stated that they feel there is no need for the expansion and that the project comes back to a handful of people who want this.
Landowner Phil Goddard explained this passionately.
“If there were a need, this would have been done and put to use 12 years ago when the discussions started,” Goddard said. “There is no need. This expansion comes on a basis of want from a handful of people with interest.”
Goddard’s family, which has owned its farm in Decatur County since 1850, has a history of donated land to the city. According to Goddard, his great-great-great-great grandfather was Colonel Thomas Hendricks who is known for using 100 acres of his land to plat the original layout of Greensburg in 1821.
Goddard continued by stating that there is too much hope being put into the idea because of a lack of statistical evidence in the expansion.
“There is too much of a ‘build it and they will come’ mentality,” Goddard said. “That is not enough to say there is a basis to take our land with imminent domain. With that you’re simply taking it without need.”
Decatur County Resident Charlie Hocker spoke to the lack of need as well.
“For every community and everybody within a community there are wants, there are needs and there are desires,” Hocker said. “I think it is being lost in the local government that this impacts everybody. I think we (the opposition) are the ones being logical about this whole thing.”
Jean Johannigman, a county resident and business owner, followed up on this as well.
“Over the course of 12 years, there have been no statistics with factual pertinence presented to back up the proposal of expanding the airport,” Johannigman said.
Lana Martin, daughter of Pam and Larry Robbins whose property is directly next to the proposed runway, explained her issues with the use of “need” associated with the project by using Honda Manufacturing of Indiana as an example.
“Honda knew what the airport in Greensburg was like when they decided to come here,” Martin said. “If a bigger airport were that important, they would not have decided to come here in the first place.”
Lack of communication a concern
Hocker raised the point that the project has not been well communicated, in his opinion.
“This has not been a community effort in the least bit,” Hocker said. “People have been left in the dark about the project the entire way. My property is not affected by the airport, but for others, I think ‘If you want my land, just come talk to me.’”
Goddard quickly followed this up with a claim that he and many others have had surveyors trespassing on their land in the past gathering information.
Goddard then referred to a point that he made in his speech that was read at the June public hearing.
“I’ve said this before, but there is a real issue with the rotating board (of aviation commissioners),” Goddard said. “Every few years there are new members to the board. There has not been and there currently is not a board that is in the know of everything that has happened over the course of these 12 years. There is no continuity.”
The Board of Aviation Commissioners is made up of members appointed by the mayor and is on staggering four-year terms.
He continued with a complaint toward city officials about their lack of attendance at the June public hearing.
“At that public hearing they held, there were no city councilmen, nobody from the FAA and no mayor,” Goddard said. “However you look at it that is not giving us (the opposition) a fair shake.”
Johannigman attended the July common council meeting at City Hall and spoke to the councilmen about their failure to attend the public hearing the week prior.
During her statement to the council, Johannigman pleaded with the councilman to pay closer attention to what is happening and not miss future meetings because of their importance.
“Make no mistake, you are the people who will be held responsible if this travesty continues,” Johannigman said. “Think hard about this but don’t think long because you are definitely fast approaching a point of no return.”
Costs to consider
The 20-year outlook for the proposed plan has a cost more than $32 million. Of that $32 million, 90 percent is paid by the Federal Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which is capitalized by fees of air freight, aircraft fuel and airline tickets.
Five percent is paid by a similar state program through INDOT’s aviation division.
The remaining five percent is the local share.
The opposition worries that the five percent share is still $1.6 million and that it will not be all of the costs associated.
Property owner Marc Haston stated that he has proved that the airport will not be able to support itself once the expansion is done.
“Many years ago I went and surveyed airports throughout the state,” Haston said. “I found that airports of similar size to what the expansion calls for has an operating cost of $150,000 to $200,000. I welcome anyone to come out and sit and see if you even see one airport leave or land. There will be more days you do not see anything at all.”
Johannigman backed this while citing research.
“An economist from Embry Aeronautical University stated that 75 percent of general aviation airports do not support themselves,” Johannigman said. “These airports fall back on the taxpayers.”
Another worry in regards to finances came from Martin, who worried about property values.
“While this is not about the money, it is about heritage lost, property values are down,” Martin said. “They have gone down and they will only continue to go down if this happens and the airport is only feet away from the property.”
A fear for safety
Former firefighter Jim McIntyre brought up a large concern for wildlife, with the idea in mind that bird hits are the number one cause of airplane accidents, according to Johannigman.
“There are an unreal amount of geese in the area of the park, country club, fairgrounds, and ballparks,” McIntyre said. “They all fly from there to the pond on 280 West and the pond in front of Honda. It is already dangerous having planes in the area because you’re in their flight path but having even larger planes causes more problems.”
Airports across the country use many deterrents to ward of geese and other birds, but McIntyre claims that it doesn’t work for as long as airports hope it works for.
“All they use is sour grape juice and vinegar spray,” McIntyre. “That is all that it is. It doesn’t work very long. One rainfall and it is gone.”
Haston mentioned a history of seeing plastic coyotes and more but agrees they do not work.
“They might work for a little bit, but they stop working,” Haston said.
Haston and McIntyre also raised concerns over flooding.
“Farms to the south of the airport already experience so much flooding,” McIntyre said. “What do you expect will happen when you lay down that much more concrete? It is only going to continue running off and causing problems for those farms.”
Martin is concerned with the planes and aircraft specifically.
“Where this proposed runway is, you will have planes coming in maybe 30 feet above my parent’s home,” Martin said. “If any of them make an error, they are going to come up short and fly right into the home.”
The group plans to continue fighting this 12-year fight and will use greensburgairport.com to continue pushing their opinions and commentary and concerns out for the public to hear.
The Daily News will continue to follow along as news becomes available in regards to airport expansion. The Greensburg Board of Aviation Commissioners will meet again at 7 p.m. on July 24 at City Hall and the public hearing about the environmental assessment is expected to be discussed.
Contact: James Howell Jr., 812-663-3111 x 7011; [e-mail]

[jean]

Airport Board / Bill Ernstes said "jobs, jobs, jobs, " as reason to expand this airport.

what does full employment mean?

William Beveridge, the architect of our welfare state, defined "full employment" as a workforce that was 3% unemployed

www.theguardian.com/society/shortcuts/2014/apr/01/what-does-full-employment-mean-george-osborne-britain

There is an argument to be made that we need higher paying jobs.....but an airport expansion is NOT what will bring higher paying jobs. To bring higher paying jobs we need an "educated" work force......expansion of our education facilities is what will educate our workforce for those higher paying jobs to come here.....NOT an airport expansion for the few.

How is Decatur County fairing currently in the unemployment rates? Here is an article from the Greensburg Daily News today, 7-27-17 :

Decatur County among 10 lowest unemployment rates in the state.

By Joshua Heath
Daiy News

"With an unemployment rate of 2.5 percent, the only counties ranked above Decatur County are Hamilton, Wells, Bartholomew, Davies, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Adams, Dubois and Elkhart. However, a mere 0.2 percent separates Decatur County from the lowest (Elkhart. "

www.greensburgdailynews.com/

[jean]

This is an awesome article about what is needed for economic development ...and it is not an airport expansion! Greensburg / Decatur County needs to realize and change their way of thinking and the following article is somewhat explicit about what the "needs" are for the way economic development going forward will happen. Note this article is again touting the need for a skilled / educated work force.

Lack of young talent impacting economic development

www.greensburgdailynews.com/cnhi_network/lack-of-young-talent-impacting-economic-development/article_7999cbcc-1d89-5905-bec9-b7b29d139b12.html

[jean]

REPORT: More than 14,700 employed in Decatur County

Remember and take note that all that was accomplished in Decatur County as illustrated in the following article was done WITHOUT this airport Expansion......while many counties that are not fairing this well already have an airport expanded to what is being proposed here in Greensburg. We do NOT need this proposed airport expansion to be successful in having jobs.

What we do need is higher paying jobs.....and as i have illustrated before this is accomplished with an EDUCATED WORKFORCE and not this proposed airport expansion. Also note that FAA SAFETY STANDARDS can be accomlished with a lot less invasive plan than is being proposed as was told to us by our Aviation expert attorney who is also a former FAA Environmental Attorney.

Report: More than 14,700 employed in Decatur County
By Joshua Heath
Daily News

www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/report-more-than-employed-in-decatur-county/article_1d7292e5-ca18-5f9d-9a65-fe8534e2e6d1.html

[jean]

Just received the agenda for the Tuesday, September 5th, 1917 City council meeting which is at 7pm at City Hall.
The First item on the agenda is a PUBLIC HEARING on the 2018 AIRPORT BUDGET and the 2018 Greensburg Comm. Schools budget. There will be OPEN PUBLIC DISCUSSION on this PUBLIC HEARING.

[jean]

ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING

At the upcoming City Council meeting at 7 Tuesday September 5th at 7 pm at City Hall ...they will start the meeting with a PUBLIC HEARING on the AIRPORT BUDGET.

[jean]

PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT AT 7 PM AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT CITY HALL....THE AIRPORT BUDGET IS PART OF THAT PUBLIC HEARING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COPY OF THE AIRPORT BUDGET...EMAIL ME WITH REQUEST: [e-mail]

[jean]

This is the VIDEO and the AGENDA of the Greensburg IN City Council Meeting of 9-5-17

NOTE: ROAD CLOSING: SATURDAY SEPT. 9TH - affecting 1/2 block of montgomery north of barachel lane. rest of barachel open with access thru freeland rd. VALEO and HITACHI drives will be open.

NOTE: The airport budget of $81,118.00 was approved on the first reading last night even though the airport board official made a statement that they are not utilizing any of those funds. He also said at one point the income was $17,500 and then he threw out a $93 thousand figure.....he was given one question by a member of the City Council which IMO the question was not answered but sidestepped and ignored. No mention of the proposed 18 million (1st stage) and up to 32 million (all 3 phases together) proposed expansion project and how they intend at minimum to come up with the 18 million it will take upfront to fund this project as IF the FAA gives them a grant ....it is a "reimbursement" grant. They have to spend it and then collect it back. It was also mentioned that they paid $41,000.00 on their initial debt which is now many years old...also no mention of the balance left on the debt or the interest being paid on that debt. It always appears like the fuel fund has a lot of money in it....but no one asked what a tank of each of the 2 types of fuel they use costs and what the overall picture on that is for a year. There was also no mention in their budget or discussion about how much they are paying and have paid over the last 10 years or so for the engineering firm to be present at every meeting and their attorney that they have hired. IMO many unanswered questions that should have been brought out into the open for the public's knowledge on this.

VIDEO:

PART 1 OF 1:

youtu.be/FnKL-Z4b40c

AGENDA:

Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance

PUBLIC HEARING: Greensburg Comm. Schools Budget 2018
Greensburg Airport Budget 2018
City Salaries
Elected Salaries
Additional Appropriation
Public Discussion
Closure of Hearing

Call to Order for General City Council meeting
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes of 8-5-17

OLD BUSINESS:

Ashlee Green - 2nd & final reading of Ord. #2017-14 Dormant
Fund.

NEW BUSINESS:


Ashlee Green - 1st reading of 2018 budgets (See Above)
Jamie Cain - New SB-1's for PP for Hitachi Res. #2017-8 &
2017-9.
CF-1 renewal for Tom Welage, Res. #2015-17
RP & 2015-18 PP

Chris Tebbe - Discussion of Animal Ordinance

Darrell Poling - BOW report

ADJOURN

[jean]

Wow....! all i can say is Wow....!

in todays Greensburg Daily News of 9-12-17 , Jim Pruett announced he is running for the Democratic nomination to represent the state's sixth congressional district in Washington. His platform: "Pruett campaign focuses on bringing government 'back to the people'." This was the title of his announcement in the Greensburg Daily News.

All the while he sits on a city board that is advocating to take the rights of said people by taking their land for a proposed airport expansion project that is un-needed and unwanted and unwarranted as they have yet to prove ANY need for this proposed project exists.

[jean]

I post this in hopes that the Decatur County Farm Bureau is serious about what they say in this article that was published on their annual meeting and come to the defense of the PRIME Farm Ground that is in jeopardy with this proposed expansion of the Greensburg airport. So far there has been no need proven to take this PRIME farm ground . Here is quotes and the link to the article:

Looking ahead: Decatur County Farm Bureau holds annual meeting
by Joshua Heath
Daily News

in the article it says: 2016: we support protecting tillable farm ground in Decatur County for agriculture use.

It also says in the article: 2017, they intend to protect tillable farm gound because "agriculture represents the highest priority tax paying base in Decatur County; we encourage minimizing conflict between agriculture and non-agriculture interests."

it also says in the article: The county farm bureau also plans to support Decatur County agriculture and county residents and business, any proposals to change county zoning regultions or changes to a current County Comprehensive Plan shall require timely public notice and a timely public hearing.

Looking ahead: Decatur County Farm Bureau holds annual meeting

www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/decatur-county-farm-bureau-holds-annual-meeting/article_db40434b-8d85-5fad-af4d-4e739a95f2c2.html

[jean]

I have just finished writing a letter to the editor in response to this article in the Greensburg Daily News of Saturday October 28,2017 which is titled: "Batesville Airport closing December 1." and i hope that they will print my response. here is a link to that article :

www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/batesville-airport-closing-dec/article_090405c4-19d0-59e5-a2c6-f9679ce76b7a.html

Here is the official letter that was issued by Batesville Aviation that was sent to me and then posted on facebook by a friend of mine.

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1610479295641124&set=a.443858485636550.99388.100000372071231&type=3&theater

[jean]

this is an email sent to me by someone who read the GDN newspaper article on the closing of the batesville airport and other information, including the official letter from Batesville Aviation that was sent to me and the letter to the editor that i have submitted to the Greensburg Daily News. Please feel free to share this as Lonny has given me permission to do so.

Lonny Wagener

10:36 AM (2 hours ago)



to

If you will click on the link below, you can read a Greensburg News article pertaining to the airport at Batesville. Many of the reasons for the closing, and possible sale of this structure is listed. This article heavily places doubt on Greensburg successfully SELF funding an airport here. BEFORE this extended airport comes to fruition, every resident of Greensburg needs to assess their abilities to help fund this airport in the form of higher taxes. As stated in this article, the airport at Batesville was NOT self funding and required the financial support of the city and county.

It might be wise to keep in mind when looking at your taxes, in 2016, the county council raised your wheel tax for each vehicle to $50.00 from $20.00. In 2017, the same county council raised your county income tax from 1.33% percent to 2.35%. This represents roughly a 77% increase in your county income taxes. To put this in perspective, look at your state income tax form for 2016, look at the county work sheet, find your taxable amount (Sch CT-40 line 1) Multiple line one by the new rate of .0235. The result is what your increased county income tax would have been in 2016. Use this figure, add in your increased wheel tax for each vehicle, and you will see how much the county council has raised your county taxes in roughly fifteen months time. Do you really, also want to support a defunct airport? I believe that the new county income tax rate takes effect January 2018. This means people will know the full effect of this higher rate until February or March of 2019 when they do their 2018 taxes. Because of this timing, during the November election in the fall of 2018, tax payers will not know the full effect of the county councils actions, until four or five months later.



If your against helping to fund an airport, that is being sold as being self funding when statistics say otherwise, it might be wise to voice your opinions before it is to late.


www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/batesville-airport-closing-dec/article_090405c4-19d0-59e5-a2c6-f9679ce76b7a.html