Find out the facts about the airport weight issue

EDITOR:

I read the guest opinion of Beverly Giannopulos and would like to respond to her opinion. However, I would like to point out a few things.

First, she actually went to the workshop and listened to the presentation. Second, she is apparently weighing all the questions before stating that she is in agreement or a disagreement of the issue before us. Third, she is not swayed by the scare tactics of a few people, or the promises of an untrusted government. And as she states, the people of Nevada and Douglas County are rather independent thinking people, and would rather base their decisions on what they know, or finding what may be true, not what someone else is telling them. Finally, I hope all the other citizens of Douglas County take her view of researching all of the aspects and questioning what actually could be the result of their actions.

Responding to her specific questions, the money received from the FAA has been primarily for maintaining the airport to its present capabilities. The capabilities of the airport in the past have been reduced from a wider runway, to a narrower runway in order to limit access to Minden. Actual capabilities of the present airport structure were unknown to the FAA. The state of Nevada was trying to determine the ability of the airports and roads of Nevada to support the levels of the citizen's requirements when all infrastructure was reviewed, and the capabilities of our airport and was found to be capable of handling higher weight limits. With review by four competent engineering companies or individuals, three out of the four concluded that the airport could maintain the airport at its present capabilities with present funding.

Where does the money come from to have an airport? The airport collects money from the actual people that are using the airport for day-to-day operations. This consists of the people that own an airplane, rent a hanger, buy fuel, and use the services at the airport. These people also pay personal property taxes on their equipment that goes directly into the county's general fund, not to the airport. It is also paid by the aircraft that come to Minden for business or pleasure. It comes from the FAA, or the business, and individuals at the airport. Presently the citizens of Douglas County are not funding the airport through their taxes.

There are a lot of concerns and questions about this issue. Please do as Beverly has done. Question what could really happen to the airport. Go to the presentations. Ask the hard questions, but listen to the answers. Perhaps, you could e-mail or mail a specific question to the airport office to be responded to at the workshops.

There will be several workshops to participate in. Please plan to attend.

Michael R. Wendling

president

Minden-Tahoe Airport Business Owners Association