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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />that area and the taxpayers would not te affected. <br /> <br />Mr. Otto - '!be Environmental Assessment is done through a oonsul tant selection <br />process. Federal guidelines for the Assessment are very detailed; it is <br />mandatory that a public hearing also te cxmducted on the EnviroIJl\ental <br />Assessment. <br /> <br />Chairman Ippel - With respect to obligating State funds - the only answer is <br />'no'. '!be State has criteria to te met and once those qualifications have teen <br />met it is a matter of teing put on a priority list. Keep in mind that these <br />ftmds are not general revenue funds; th~ are basically user taxes put upon <br />aircraft aolners and aiq:ort operators and those funds are dedicated to airport <br />developnent. Nobody on this CoImnission would hope to see that airport J::ecome a <br />reality if the developnent oosts would te Ramsey's responsibility 100%. With <br />respect to location, there is not a location that would te to everyone's <br />satisfaction. '!be State has an ordinance addressing airport location, the <br />'cornfield' ordinance. '!his airport study was to study the existing site only <br />because it already exists and is being used. With the exception of the hanes <br />to the mrth, it is pretty well screened and situated in the middle of 1400 <br />acres of industrial property. <br /> <br />CoImnissioner Stauffer - cne of the meetings of this Carmission was dedicated to <br />looking at the econanic tenefits. '!be minutes of that meeting are public <br />record. <br /> <br />Ccmnissioner Sieber - Can Ramsey afford an airport? Yes, if we want one. <br />Cotmcil and ultimately the citizens will make that decision. Is it wiser to <br />extend sewer and water rather than develop an airport to attract tax base? <br />'!bat is not known. I guess that sewer and water will cane in anyway as sewer <br />and water always cane into developing areas. Don't think it is a case of <br />airport ~ sewer and water; sewer will came either way. '!he airport may <br />retard or speed up the need for sewer and water. With respect to looking at <br />other sites, I have been in Ramsey 8 years and recall when the General Mills <br />property was teing considered as an airport site; a lot of rot tempers got <br />consideration of that site stoRJed. '!be Gateway site is the only real viable <br />site in Ramsey. Will the facility te self-supporting? I don't think so but I <br />do think it will generate enough indirect revenue to offset the operation <br />costs. Overall, it will te a benefit to Ramsey and bring money into the City, <br />but econanic tenefit is not the only consideration. Acoording to the City <br />Olarter, Cotmcil makes the decision and it is this Carmission' s job to <br />recarmend to Cotmcil whether or oot the project is feasible and a good idea. <br />'!be airport issue would not te put to a referendum unless it is done ~ <br />ordinance, and it probably will tee If it is financed through G.O. bonds, it <br />will go to a referendum vote. tUtimately, the people will decide. Residential <br />property taxes will increase if additional comnercial tax base isn't brought <br />into the City; the airport can spur that comnercial developnent, but is an <br />airport the best way to spur that developnent. Do the people want to bring in <br />business or will it te an expensive tedroan camttmity. Ramsey is in the middle <br />of a developing area and if we retard developnent, the oost of living will be <br />higher; that is the decision the people have to make. Do the people want <br />eoonomic grQt/th and do they want to accomplish it with an airport? <br /> <br />Mr. Babcock - 118 E. Main - Anoka - Am an attorney representing Max Schwartzman <br />August 21, 1985 <br /> <br />Page 7 of 14 <br />