Oct. 3--Having taken the lead on a proposal to bring a new airport to Madison County, the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners is now feeling the brunt of opposition to the project.
During the board's regular meeting on Tuesday, several opponents voiced their opinions. Susan Campbell, part of a two-person steering committee from airport opposition group No-Fly Zone, characterized the feasibility study for the project as "flawed."
"You moved forward based on the report, and it is a flawed report," Campbell said.
In May, the town of Fishers initiated a feasibility study concerning the relocation of Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport to southwest Madison County. An area of 4,000 acres in Green and Stony Creek townships was identified, and the study was released in August, with recommendations for further examination.
Board President Tony Rogers said the study was wide in scope, and might contain errors, but he asserted that more information was needed.
"I'm a little disappointed in the direction the citizens have decided to take," said Rogers. "They have started to slander the board and use misinformation and disinformation. Personally, I'm done working with you."
Rogers said he believes No-Fly Zone represents perhaps 20 to 30 airport opponents and is trying to make a decision for all of Madison County's 130,000 residents.
Last month, the board authorized attorney John Blevins to enter into negotiations for an inter-governmental agreement with Fishers. Such an agreement would open the lines of communications between the two governmental entities.
On Tuesday, Blevins said he had been in contact with a representative of Fishers to discuss studies authorized by the board and paid for by Fishers. He also called the board the "lead agency in the project."
The new airport is being characterized as a "replacement airport," that would offer the same level of service as Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport and Anderson Municipal Airport. The Anderson Airport Support Group, a collection of pilots and tenants based at Anderson Municipal Airport, oppose the project because it could mean the closure of the existing airport.
Peter Bitar, of Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems, asked whether his proposal to purchase the airport had moved forward with the city. XADS has multimillion-dollar contracts with the U.S. Defense Department and is interested in expanding his business, specifically, erecting a $2 million building.
"To build a building with no road and no taxiway is pointless," said Bitar, who has added new employees in each of the past two years and plans to do so in the future.
"I can't tell you this will be an airport next year. I can't give you that certainty," Rogers said.
"We are considering what are the options for this land once the city no longer funds it."
Rogers said he lives in the area identified for the proposed airport. He said he would gladly accept an option on his 18 acres in order to benefit all of Madison County.
"We're in the strange position of having to consider another airport, and it has affected everything we do," Rogers said. "I would rather have it never come up, but it's here and we're dealing with it."
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