Subscribe
Shop Local
Magazine
Gas Prices
Today's Poll!Columbia airport funds could be approved Monday
Friday, September 14, 2012
The Jefferson City Council will decide Monday whether to contribute $100,000 to the Columbia Regional Airport to help land a new airline serve the area.
The funds, considered to be a one-time expenditure, would be deposited to guarantee profits in exchange for a proposed new service at the airport.
But the measure has been opposed by the airport advisory committee for Jefferson City Memorial Airport, whose members say the airport needs many things and could use that money. They also claim similar agreements at other airports ended with the airline leaving after the one year of guaranteed profits.
The issue could be taken up early in Monday’s council meeting. One of the first items on the agenda is a presentation from Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid on the proposal. Mayor Eric Struemph said the issue has been discussed between the two cities for some time.
Marry Me
Comments
JCsleeper 8 months, 1 week ago
JC is cutting it's budget. Streets and sidewalks need repairs. JC Memorial Airport could use som funds. JC mayor and some JC Council want to contribute $100k to Columbia Regional Airport. Fact can sometimes be stranger than fiction.
Crump 8 months, 1 week ago
The city fathers here have tried for years to emulate whatever Columbia does. With the condition of our streets, sewer, and downtown parking I think the money could go for more tax payer needed projects. If the Columbia Airport can't produce enough business to sustain air service,y should we throw money at it.
dokeus6 8 months, 1 week ago
Well lets see. Let's take a look at this from a growing the local economy stand point. I am in no means a civil engineer but to me it's common sense that to get people to come to an area you must first make it accessible. Airports, roads, new bridges. After that people will come, business will come. Job's will come. This area of the state is getting primed to grow quickly. If the nuclear issues get lined out at Callaway, thousands upon thousands of jobs will be created to support that venture. I have been against the past tax increases but I personally feel that this is a good investment on the city's part but that's my opinion.
JCLifer 8 months, 1 week ago
Close down the little JC airport and support our Regional Airport!
Why work so hard and spend so much money trying to keep up with Columbia? If you can't beat 'em, then join them. Close down the JC Airport and put our money and efforts into helping grow the Regional Airport that is just 20 minutes down the road.
More taxpayers would be helped, instead of the city subsidizing a nice little personal airport for state government and the governor.
It just makes sense to try not to duplicate facilities and services. More Jefferson City taxpayers fly out of the Regional Airport than they do the Jeff City airport.
Close down the little JC airport and support our Regional Airport!
Sequoia 8 months, 1 week ago
I'd be down with this if the proposal includes Columbia helping fund a commuter train between Columbia and JC.
asb 8 months, 1 week ago
Good idea, but as long as our energy taxes mostly fund highways and subsidize auto and air transport with a statistically invisible passenger rail budget, that won't be done. There's this big river and no rail capable bridge . . .
asb 8 months, 1 week ago
Some points to consider. $100K of local money is usually matched by much larger federal transportation infrastructure grants, and maybe I should read the full story but can somebody confirm this? If so it would be a much better investment than $100K in sidewalks or streets, but only if it actually helped JC's transportation growth needs. This may sound odd but could that $100K include re-naming of the airport to something other than "Columbia Regional?" I think a lot of resistance comes from our percieved "emulation" of, or competition with, Columbia. And finally, Lifer's idea of eliminating the local airport has some good points, but the state, the guard, local business, and private citizens really do need it. It's worth considering, but I think cities the size of JC always have need for a municipal airport, and the state/federal users add to that rationale. Our economy has to grow, and air transport has to meet those needs. I think this might be a sound investment, just change the name . . .
Please review our Policies and Procedures before registering or commenting
Or login with:
OpenID