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I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br />,I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />i <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Mr. Thompson stated that he has met with people to the east of the airport <br />and they are opposed to what is being considered for Gateway. <br /> <br />Mr. Greenberg replied that he has not heard those comments. <br /> <br />Mr. Thompson stated that the General Mills site was shot down dxamatically <br />because itt was publicized negatively. <br /> <br />Mr. Schnelle commented that the news reporter at that time wrote the story <br />without knowing all the facts and later admitted that he did not properly <br />inform the public. Council has appointed this Commission and their position <br />on the airport will be based on reports they receive from this Commission. <br />If Council takes a positive position there will be more processes to go <br />through. If Council takes a negative position, the airport will probably <br />shut down. <br /> <br />Mr. Thompson inquired as to how this Airport Commission was initiated. <br /> <br />Mr. schnelle replied that in July,i-~the Economic Development Commission requested <br />Council to form an Airport Commission and Council did so. <br /> <br />Mr. Ippel stated that there are several items to be considered: <br /> <br />1. Is it possible to put a permanent facility at the location. <br /> <br />2. What improvements will be required to make it a more viable asset to <br /> the community. <br /> <br />3. The possibility of bringing employment to the community. <br /> <br />4. Changing of traffic patterns. <br /> <br />Mr. Ippel further commented that there a lot of communities that have used <br />their airports as a very viable part of the community and it brings in large <br />businesses. There is a lot of exploration to be done and a lot of facts to <br />be gathered and then present the existing alternatives back to Council. <br /> <br />Mr. Thompson concurred that airports can be viable for the city and inquired <br />why the airport was never given the opportunity to grow years ago when the <br />demand for the facility was there. <br /> <br />Mr. Greenberg replied that the .owners of the airport 'could not guarantee' <br />potential users of it that it would always be there because of relocation <br />plans. Those relocation plans were shut down by Council before a site-search <br />committee was appointed. This Airport Commission's purpose is to study <br />Gateway North site only -- keeping it the same size and upgrading runways. <br />Mr. Greenberg stated that he has met with EDC, Mr. Schnelle, Mayor Gamec <br />and the State Department of Aeronautics and Gateway North will remain as a <br />minimum airport. It is the feeling of this Commission that a runway larger <br />than 3300 feet is not needed. <br /> <br />Chuck Soderholm - Stated that those persons involved in the airport, like <br />Mr. Greenberg, have been quite generous to date and they should not be expected <br />to continue that generosity. Mr. Soderholm stated that his company expends <br />$2000/month to the Crystal Airport and his company cannot switch to Ramsey's <br />airport until the airport runway is upgraded. <br /> <br />Mr. Ippel pointed out that runway upgrading refers to paving and not lengthening; <br />that the present runway causes expensive repairs to plane engines. <br /> <br />AP/August 30, 1983 <br /> Page 3 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />