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stop the proposed airport project before any more money is spent. <br />Mr. Hartley - Replied that there is a procedure called initiative <br />referendum available to all of the citizens in Ramsey. That procedure <br />allows the citizens to request, through a petition, that a question be <br />placed on the ballot to initiate a law. That low or ordinance could <br />essentially say that there will be no public funds spent for airports. <br />The signatures of 10% of the registered voters at the last city -wide <br />election is required to get the question on the ballot and the majority <br />vote would rule. <br />Sharon Mager - Stated she is opposed to the proposed airport improvements. <br />Rtom Rurak - 15001 Sunfish Lake Blvd. - Stated that he is pleased with the <br />airport ordinance because it would disallow vertical expansion of the <br />landfill, Site P would not be feasible and neither would the proposed <br />asphalt plant. Airports attract a higher class of development. This <br />airport would have the potential to attract office/warehouse types of <br />businesses that would increase Ramsey's tax base which will benefit all <br />residents. Stated he is in favor of the proposed airport improvements. <br />Ted Erkenbrack - 6650 Bwy. #10 - Northern Oxygen - Stated that Northern <br />Oxygen moved to it's present location from Anoka in order operate. their <br />business in a less populated area that would not create such a safety <br />hazard to the public. The proposed airport ordinance and improvements <br />proposed would force Northern Oxygen to mare to another location. Driving <br />industry away is not expanding the tax base. Northern Oxygen employs 15 <br />and that could double in the next few years. Do not agree that the airport <br />will bring in that much more additional revenue to area businesses. <br />Airports are not a big revenue generator. <br />Virgil Barnes - 5415 151st Avenue - Stated that he is a resident of Ramsey <br />and has been the fixed base operator at Gateway Airport for the past 3 <br />years. Three years ago there was one part -time flight instructor at <br />Gateway; today there are 10 full -time people employed at Gateway. The <br />airport is also associated with the AVTI program; there are classrooms <br />located on the airport property and it is expected that 100 students will <br />be enrolling in their air traffic control and airport administration <br />classes next fall. The types of aircraft that would be utilizing the <br />facility after the improvements are the same type that are using the <br />airport now -- light twin and single engine. The airport does not <br />currently attract corporate aircraft because of the soft runway. The <br />Proposal is to just improve what is already at the facility; it is not an <br />expansion of the facility. Mr. Barnes stated that anybody having questions <br />regarding airport operations should not hesitate to call him. Stated that <br />he is in favor of airport improvements that will make the facility safer <br />and better for business aircraft to operate out of. <br />Greg Patten - 7005 151st Avenue - Inquired as to what happened to the <br />Petition that was circulated a couple of years ago which was sided by 90% <br />of the residents in Ramsey stating they did not want an airport. <br />Mr. Hartley - Replied that he does not know of the petition; he was not <br />Airport Zoning Board/19arch 11, 1987 <br />Page 11 of 12 <br />