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Commissioner Sieber inquired as to how many operations it would take to <br />support the facility. <br /> <br />Chairman Ippel stated that there is a study being done on the Crystal Airport <br />and the resuIts of that study will be made available to this Commission. <br />Chairman Ippel also stated that airport activity can cover the cost of <br />operations but there is no way that airport activity will pay for the initial <br />outlay fo~ improvoments at the airport. <br /> <br />C~)mmissioner Erickson stated that airport justification lies in the additional <br />tax base it draws in, like another utility. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sieber stated that there would be much more revenue generated by <br />business related aircraft than with recreational aircraft; will Gateway <br />attract businesses like a utility or will it attract planes? Commissioner <br />Sieber stated that he agrees that airports are considered as another utility <br />that a ci~ has to offer to attract develol~uent but Ramsey does have limited <br />resources available to invest in economic development and is the airport the <br />right place to spend those limited resources. Commissioner Sieber stated that <br />he feels the odds are against Ramsey because it is not a population center, it <br />is not readily accessible to freeways and it is on the wrong side of the <br />MississipPi. <br /> <br />Commissioner Greenberg stated that if the City is not going to attract <br />business develo~ent, then too much land is zoned industrial. <br /> <br />Commissioner Siebert stated that Gateway would serve more than Ramsey and <br />the population of Anoka, Champlin, Dayton, Elk River and Andover should be <br />taken into ~onsideration. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sieber stated that Ramsey is 30 miles north of Minnesota's <br />industrial hub and he doesn't feel this area will grow as a business force <br />until that southern area is fully developed. <br /> <br />Chairman Ippel pointed out that the communities to the south of the Metro area <br />that have done well have an airport at the center of their growth. <br /> <br />Commissioner Greenberg stated that he has positive feelings about this <br />corridor along Hwy. 910: it is zoned industrial/commercial, has a good source <br />of electrical service, soils are condusive to industrial development. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sieber pointed out that Ramsey has a high water table and until <br />on site systems are eliminated, there is a potential for industry to <br />contaminate groundwater. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding the initial cash outlay to improve the airport, <br />Ramsey's share of that cost and potential ways of financing. <br /> <br />Commissioner Sieber stated that he is not as opposed to the airport as popular <br />opinion seems but he wants to see on paper those figures that the projections <br />were based on. <br /> <br />Commissioner Erickson stated that from a City standpoint, it has to be <br /> February 20, 1985 <br /> <br />Page 3 of 5 <br /> <br /> <br />