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November 15, 1987 <br />Mayor Gary Reimann <br />Ramsey City Hall <br />15153 Nowthen Blvd. NW. <br />Ramsey, MN. 55303 <br />Dear Mr. Reimann: <br />I am very concerned over the direction the city council appears <br />to be moving on the expansion of the Gateway North Industrial <br />Airport. There are several issues surrounding the proposed <br />expansion which concern me. <br />The first is a matter of priorities. In the meetings I have <br />attended, and by the actions of the council, it appears that the <br />city council has made airport expansion a very high priority for <br />the city. I would like to know how the airport has become such a <br />high priority item with the city council? Was there a decision <br />made at a recent planning session which made airport expansion <br />one of the city's high priority items? <br />Many of my concerns regarding airport expansion pertain to the <br />cost which the city will have to bear over the life of this <br />project. The May 1985 Draft of the Airport Master Plan shows the <br />city's portion of the cost over 20 years to be $ 1,310,000.00. <br />(exhibit 1) Assuming the city will have to bond to raise those <br />funds. the interest alone on the $1,310.000. over 20 years would <br />bring that number to a total of $2.629,765.(at 8% interest). <br />This money according to the draft will benefit an estimated 35 <br />aircraft by 1995, and 50 to 60 by 2005. (exhibit 2) When in the <br />history of the city have we spent over $2.5 million dollars to <br />benefit 35 to 60 people? <br />As you and I both know, the $2.629,765. figure is only a start. <br />When you also factor in the loss in tax revenue over the life of <br />the airport to the city, thecounty, and the school district, <br />that number increases dramatically. I am of course referring to <br />the tax revenue which will be lost from not only the existing <br />airport which is currently generating revenue for the city, but <br />also the loss in revenue from the homes and businesses which will <br />have to be destroyed in order to expand the airport. <br />I am appalled to think that the council would support an <br />expenditure of this magnitude to benefit such a small number of <br />people. Most of whom do not reside in nor pay taxes in Ramsey. <br />How can you justify an expenditure of this magnitude in a city <br />where drivers end up in peoples yard's because there are no <br />street lights to mark the intersections at night; in a city where <br />there is no civil defense warning system to warn residents of <br />severe storms, or tornadoes; in a city that assesses for seal <br />