Pilots air concerns at city meeting

By Roger Estlack

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen met in regular session June 13, 2000, at 7 p.m. in the Board Room of City Hall.

The hanger rental at the airport was discussed. Current and former local pilots expressed concern that they were being asked to carry the entire expense of operating the airport. The pilots outlined the benefits of the municipal airport.

City alderman raised the airport rent to $40 per month on October 1, 1998. The fee had been $25 per month.

“I think what you’re asking is out of line,” said former pilot and hanger owner Dr. R.L. Gilkey. “You spend more on the park than the airport. It’s less than one-half of one percent of the city budget.”

Gilkey recalled the airport was built with a grant and said he didn’t think the city wanted to loose the airport.

“An airport is a necessary part of a viable community,” said former pilot Dr. Charles Deyhle, Sr. “A city without an airport is like a house without a toilet.”

Hangers at the airport are privately owned, but the city owns the land on which the buildings sit.

The pilots pointed out that they already pay taxes on the hangers and on the planes, and the said they felt it was unfair to have to pay a high rent to the city for a using a municipal airport. They compared Clarendon’s hanger rates to other communities, most of which were lower or free.

City officials say they have no intention of shutting down the airport. The city says some hanger owners have simply stopped paying the monthly fee since the increase went into effect. They want the hanger owners to sign an annual contract for renting the space at the airport.

For their part, most of the pilots say they might agree to a contract depending on the rates and the wording of the contract. But pilot Troy Skinner pointed out, “We’ve never needed a contract before.”

Skinner said to start with hanger space was free at the airport, then he said the city raised the rate to $25 per year and then later to $25 per month. Payment was never a problem, he said, until the city went to $40 per month.

Alderman Smiley Johnson made a motion to charge the pilots ten cents per square foot per year. The motion died for lack of a second. The board then approved a motion to table the matter.

 In other city business, the aldermen adopted a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a solid waste grant. The city is seeking $52,800 to implement a program to be known as the Citizens Collection Center Project.

The aldermen also approved a resolution to hire HOWCO Services, Inc., of Lubbock for grant administration services.

Roger Estlack discussed the annual pioneer edition of the newspaper. The aldermen approved a motion to advertise for the city for July Fourth.

The ordinance concerning water, sewer, and sanitation charges was discussed and tabled until the City Attorney can be present.

Employment was discussed for full time and part time help. The board voted to interview and hire two employees.

City Superintendent Jim Roberts reported on street and sewer work being done.

The replacement of one city alderman was discussed, and the matter was tabled until the next regular meeting.