Fri, Nov 07, 2003
Isn't It Nice To Read About Something That Went OUR Way (For A
Change)???
Following Tuesday night's resounding
[repeat after me, RESOUNDING... OK, gloating moment over--EIC]
victory for Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg Mayor Rick
Baker announced Wednesday he will no longer pursue his "compromise"
plan to close one of the airport's two runways and sell some land
for development. And the city council, six of whose eight members
were solidly pro-airport, wasted no time after Tuesday's
mandate.
At a council meeting Thursday morning, the board agreed to
establish a working group to set priorities for badly needed
improvements. Jack Tunstill, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer
for Albert Whitted, told the council members that the working group
needs to have at least four aviation members — two from each
of the local airport support groups. "We are the vested interest,"
said Tunstill. "We are the people who drove this issue to its
conclusion Tuesday night. The working group needs to include our
voices."
Tunstill reminded the council that Albert Whitted Airport is
more than just a local resource; it's a national one as well. He
said the eyes of the public are on the city of St. Petersburg to
see what it does now that it's been handed a mandate from the
voters.
"Our airport is a gem waiting to be polished," he said. "We want
to polish it."
The Turnaround In Attitude Might Lead to Whiplash...
With the airport's future secured, the city moved quickly to
fill the airport manager's position. On Wednesday Mayor Baker named
Richard Lesniak to the post. Lesniak has been the operations
manager at nearby St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
(PIE). While there, he has been responsible for airfield operations
and security.
"Between Mayor Baker's decision not to pursue a one-runway
option and the council's decisive action, Albert Whitted can no
longer be considered an 'at risk' airport," said AOPA President
Phil Boyer. "It just goes to show what a committed group of local
pilots backed by the 400,000-strong voice of AOPA can do when we
work together."
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