Residents Suggest Bruce Willis, Other Sun Valley Vacationers
Pay For Move
Yet another municipality which has taken federal funding to buy
land for an airport, then promoted close-by residential
development, is wringing its hands over the resulting conflict. But
in this case, the protest by NIMBYs has an added dimension - the
risk of a loss of airline service to the community.
Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho has a single runway
7,550' long, which in addition to serving about 40,000 GA
operations a year also enjoys scheduled regional airline service
from SkyWest and Horizon. Airport Manager Rick Baird warned the
Bellevue, Idaho City Council last week that unless improvements are
made to the facility, the airport could lose that commercial
service, its economic benefits, and $1.4 million in federal
funding. He notes the control tower on the field would likely be
closed, and firefighting and snow removal crews would have to be
cut.
At issue is a group of NIMBYs in Bellevue, who are blaming the
airport for everything from noise pollution to leukemia cases. They
want improvements stopped, and a new airport built in an alternate
location farther from their homes. At least two possible new
locations have been identified, but there are issues with uprooting
a protected species, and costs could reach $300 million, including
a $100 million portion required to be paid through a local bond
issue.
A group of 130 residents aligned against the airport remain
adamant that the move needs to happen, and have offered suggestions
including levying fees on wealthy vacationers who frequent resorts
served by the airport. The Idaho Mountain Express reports resident
Kate Woods suggested to the city council that owners of second
homes in the valley come up with the $100 million. Bellevue
resident Guy Pere asked the airport board, "Have you talked to
Bruce Willis?"
Baird is hoping for incremental improvements to the current
airport, noting that lowering the minimum approach ceilings to
1,000 feet could cut diversions by 50 percent. Most of those
diversions currently go to Twin Falls.
The Mountain Express reports resident Darsi Cordingley chided
the council, "If someone was to put an airport in your backyard, I
would hope every one of you would be right where I am, fighting
against it with all you have. I will not live in a community that
does not care about the members that sustain it." But Friedman
Memorial Airport has been on its current location since the 1930s,
suggesting Cordingly probably put her home in the airport's
backyard, not the other way around.