Nov. 22--RUPERT --About two dozen Minidoka County property owners whose land is being eyed as a potential site for a new Mini-Cassia airport gathered Monday to discuss their concerns with Minidoka County commissioners.

County Commissioner Bob Moore said he called the landowners in for the meeting to let them know that the commissioners are listening. Two of the four potential sites for a replacement to the aging J.R. "Jack" Simplot Airport in Burley are within Minidoka County.

"Somebody needs to tell the Burley citizens that they will be financially responsible for the new airport and they can't afford it," Moore said.

Before the city's last attempt at building a new airport folded in 2008, a replacement was estimated to cost $15 million. Moore said Burley residents would have to foot the bill through a bond issue or levy override to pay the majority of airport costs, which he doesn't have an estimate for.

"And I don't think they do either," Moore said of Burley officials.

Moore was instrumental in helping the owners of Blincoe Farms Inc. stop Burley from acquiring their property during the city's second try for a new airport in 2008. Blincoe Farms halted Burley's efforts by asking the city of Heyburn to annex their property. He said Minidoka County's countywide urban renewal district could possibly be used in a similar fashion to keep Burley's plans south of the Snake River.

Burley's first effort to develop a new airport fell apart in 1997 after disagreements among the various involved cities and Cassia and Minidoka counties brought the negotiations to an end.

On Monday, Jackson-area property owner Bill McManus said a lot of forward-thinking people would like to see more big business come into Mini-Cassia, even if it comes at the expense of existing rural business.

"The powers that be in Burley are overlooking the simple fact that there is strong agricultural business already in place," McManus said.

Moore said Burley officials could condemn the property they select for an airport and buy it under eminent domain if current owners are reluctant to sell.

While the airport meeting was on the commissioners' public agenda for Monday, Burley officials weren't specifically invited and didn't attend the discussion. Burley City Administrator Mark Mitton didn't return a phone call Monday from the Times-News.

Mitton said in a previous interview that there are no current cost estimates for a new airport but the Federal Aviation Administration would pay the majority. Exactly how much the FAA pays would be determined by the site selected and funding available. State funding could also be available for the project.

Speaking against expenses for a new airport, property owner Nick Stephens said Burley can't currently afford to keep up on street repairs and the county's school district can't get a bond passed to provide clean drinking water at Raft River schools.

Moore said Blaine County spent millions of dollars this year only to learn that the county can't afford a new airport. He said the best option for south-central Idaho would be a regional airport that would most logically be located in Jerome County.

Minidoka County resident Lee Williams, whose family owns property at one of the potential airport sites, said landowners should perhaps form a coalition and aggressively inform Burley citizens through grassroots door-knocking.

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