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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-06-01, Page 3Transport Canada recommends longer runway rn BY JOANNE WALT'ERS The Goderich Airport Committee is recom- mending to Goderich Town Council that a Transport Canada conceptual project to build an asphalt runway of 5,000 feet by 100 feet at Sky Har''bour Airport be carried out, but in stages. The committee is further recommending that town council consider this project a priority and reserve working capital for it in the future. The recommendation from the committee followed a development sub -committee report presented by chairman Don Wheeler at last Wednesday evening's meeting. The purpose of the report was to con- solidate and summarize .all information relevant to the current operations and futurepotential of the Goderich Sky Harbour Airport so that the Air- port Committee could make recommendations to council as to the future couse ' of airport development. The report mentioned two other alternatives to the 5,000 feet by 100 feet asphalt runway. It suggested the alternative of constructing a new 3,999 feet by 75 feet asphalt runway. Although the economic benefits of this type .would not be as high as those accured from a 5,000 foot runway, the zoning requirements would involve minimal control over adjacent properties and the project couldbe com- pleted with a single grant. The second alternative was to use the Federal GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1978—PAGE 3 ittee sugg'is ts staged improvement Development grant available to improve the present runway as long as the rights such as those granted under instrument number 612 could be maintained to ensure adequate ap- proach limits. The recommendation which the airport com- mittee agreed on would involve building a gravel runway or a shorter paved runway as a first stage and then reap- plying for further assistance to complete the project of a 5,000 foot runway. If this recom- mendation is followed, it will be essential to acquire control over Lots 7, 8, 9 and 10 to protect the zoning requirements needed to satisfy Tran- • sport Canada's criteria. VARYING OPINION There was some discussion of varying opinion on which alter- native recommendation to present to town council. Airport Com- mittee chairman Dick Wright expressed his concern that the 5,000 foot runway was not af- fordable and that it, would take a considerable length of time to build. "Who knows what the situation at the airport will be in 15 years time," .he said. Committee member Lloyd Atfield 'expressed his concern that by choosing one alternative over the other, "we could bottle ourselves in for the future." Don Wheeler argued however that with the lake on the border of the airport and the highway pn the other, "we've locked ourselves in - anyway." Committee member Dick Speers said, -"T thank this town needs things like sewers and roads more than a new run- way." Committee member Deb Shewfelt said in his opinion, "if we're going to stay in the airport business, we should go with recommendation A (the 5,000 foot runway."). "Let's take it one step at a time, phase it in. Either that or get out of the business altogether and leave it as a small hobby type set up," he added. Committee member Bill Bogie agreed. "either we go with a 5,000 foot runway or we don't go at all," he said. SUB -COMMITTEE REPORT The sub -committee report stated that the municipality of Goderich purchased the airport for $120,000 in October 1974. The terms were $5,000 cash and a debenture of $115,000 for 15 years at 61/2 percent to be retired in 1989. From the purchase date up to December 31, 1977, the municipality had spent $125,840.62 on paying for, operating and developing the airport. A total of $43,929.98 was paid out in debenture debt. A total of $70,011.25 Was expended on development .of the airport which included lengthening runway and paving runway lighting. The remaining $11,899.39 was the municipal share of the operating' cost of the airport for this period. Business Air Services, Sky Harbour Refinishing Limited, Wigham Air Hugh Hill of Picton Street in Goderich won $1,000 in the Goderich and District Community Grandstand lottery on Monday evening, May 29. Mr. 'Hill, a long time member of the Goderich Trotting Association, will be 94 in December. In the Association he has held many positions over the years like president, director and secretary -treasurer. Mr. Hill has five *daughters, Hazel Feagan of Goderich, Doris Parton of Toronto, Olive $aechler, Norma Hazlitt and Irene. Duckworth all of Goderich. When his daughter, Mrs. Duckworth phoned to tell him the good news, Mr. Hill said she must have the wrong number. He couldn't believe his good fortune. Mr. Hill has no im- mediate plans for the money.,He will simply bank it for now. With Mr. Hill, presenting the cheque are Town Clerk Larry McCabe and Mayor Deb Shewfelt. (Photo by Joanne Walters) UNITED KINGDOM TOUR 1978 Following our arrival at STAINES We may see SLOUGH On our way to WILTS Via BUCKS And BERKS Later we will pass through OXON And WORCS To SALOP And CLWYD Why not join two old country types Touring a Britons Britain, we leave on September 8 for an intriguing FORTNIGHT! FOR DECIPHERED DETAILS REQUEST OUR BROCHURE, SERENE SEASON UK TOUR '78 COACH HOUSE TRAVEL SERVICE HAMILTON STREET, GODERICH 5248366 Government Approved A.C,T.A. Agency Services and B&B Air- craft are the firms engaged in -activities directly related to Air* port use with Business Air Services being the largest of the four, the report revealed. Apart from these firms, Kin- cardine Air Services carries out seasonal operations .out of the .airport. The number of airport users both transient and those using Sky Harbour as their home base have more than tripled with a resulting increase in revenues particularly in the sale of fuel which has increased 600 percent over the period under review, according to the sub -committee report. In early 1977 Business Air Services made a presentation to th,e_ Airport Committee outlining their plans for future activities they - hoped to carry out at Sky Harbour Airport if facilities could be im- proved. From there, the airport committee, with the approval of town council, asked Transport Canada to carry out an ecotomic feasibility study and an engineering study to determine the feasibility of building a new runway oriented so as to be of maximum length and still within the boundaries of the airport property and to have a minimum of a 5,000 feet by 100 feet usable runway length, The results of the economic feasibility study indicated that a new 5,000 feet by 100 feet runway would have a cost benefit of $556,000 and since the Goderich air- port is classed as local industrial, a maximum Federal Development grant totalling $250,000 could be applied for under Transport Canada's ' Financial Assistance policy. The municipality subsequently applied for this grant but' to date have received no in- dication as to whether the, application has been accepted or not. The airport committee has, up until the present, not budgeted any funds for capital expenditures and excluding debenture payment, should end the ye -p -r., -snowing- only a small deficit, the sub- committee report maintained. All the users of the airport have indicated that they would like to see the airport facilities continue to be improved by they also stated that they were not in a position to contribute financially to such im- provements, said the report. The Federal Gover- nment grant cannot excede 80 percent of the total construction costs. Therefore, these costs would have to be equal to or exceed $310,000 to obtain the full $250,000 grant. The report also pointed out that the financial assistance can only be applied to con- struction costs of run- ways, taxi ways, lighting, etc. and cannot be ap- plied to include the cost of land acquisition. "Considering we would like to spend the minimum and receive the maximum grant, the municipality would be looking • at spending $60,000 if its own or contributed funds on any alternative project," the report states. Some projects were suggested in the report that would cost in the neighbourhood ' of $310,000. It was worked out that a 3,999 feet by 75 feet runway with ,no lighting or .side drains would cost ap- proximately $250,000. A runway of 5,000 feet by 100 feet including edge lighting, side drains, approach clearing and 10 percent contingencies would cost ap- proximately $1,080,000. CO-ORDINATOR 'S REPORT The airport co - or d.inator 's report showed a problem with the gas pumps and the gas building being left unlocked ' occassionally. Co-ordinator Meriam also stated that pilots were forgetting to mark gas sales on sheets at night and on weekends resulting in being short 300 gallons of fuel. In regards to this fuel problem, the airport committee decided to get a new lock with one key for the gas building. The committee also passed a motion to hire a summer student for the airport, mainly to pump gas and to supplement the hours the co-ordinator is not there. The committee then decided to co- ordinate a price rise for fuel with the hiring o.f a summer student. "There is no need for keys to be out or to give discounts to someone for having to pump his own gas," said Town Clerk Larry McCatre. 'He then went on to read fuel prices from other air- ports showing that fuel at Sky Harbor was selling for considerably less. Fuel 80-87 will now sell for 97.9 cents, a gallon; 100-130 will now sell for 99.9 cents; and turbo fuel will sell for 88 and 91 cents with the pumps to go metric by July 1. LIGHTINU .. Meriam also went on in his co-ordinator's report to say that there needed to be reliable service on major electrical problems such as lighting. The airport committee passed a motion • giving Ken Hunter and Terry M-eriam the -. power to negotiate a maintenance contract regarding the lights. Also regarding the lights at the airport, the administration sub- committee made the following _ recom- mendation ,which was agreed to by all at the meeting: that in con- sideration of the necessity of runway light parts, it is requested that the airport committee recommend the approval to purchase, as soon as possible, the required quantity of the runway light parts at the in- dividual prices quoted by Westburne ' (one of four companies contacted by the sub -committee regarding the cost of parts and the least ex- pensive of all sub- missions). The report stated that, "It must, be noted that SHIRTS S.M.L. Reg. '9.99 Save 30% RONI LIGHTERS (DISPOSABLE) Great for Father PILLOWS Camp or Home CREST TOOTHPASTE 100 ML Reg. '1.17 JIGSAW PUZZLES BATTERIES 4 ONLY 25 MEN'S SOCKS Wide Selection Reg. '1.00-9,29 PAPER TOWELS JUMBO ROLL FRIDAY & SATURDAY ONLY Bring in this ad and receive ONLY 75 One pair of one -size PANTI-HOSE (Limit one pr. per customer) The above prices in e.4ect until closing Tues., June 6 or while quantities last , STEDMANS GODERICH SHOPPING MALL HW,Y. N0,8 _ __ GODERICH total purchase cost, in- cluding Provincial Sales Tax at four percent, is somewhat considerable ($856.44) but still less than a previous purchase in the amount of ap- proximately $1,000 through Huron Pines Construction a year ago." Dick Wright of the administrative sub- committee said that the' supply of lights should last a year or so. He said there were eight lights at present that needed sockets and this affects the licence of the airport. Delivery time would be 'about eight to ten weeks, he said. Meriam°also stated in his report that a farmer plowing land at the airport was cutting across the usable part of the runway with his tractor and leaving lumps of mud on the runway. The committee then instructed the town clerk to write a letter to the farmer requesting that he take more protective action and also to go over the land lease and perhaps modify it, if needed, before renewal. The committee expressed concern that Aver the years, plowing has been easing over closer to the runway. In the maintenance sub -committee's report, Dick Speers suggested that four flood lights were needed for night lighting around the refuelling area. These lights would cost about $100 he said and had been requested by pilots. The committee then passed a motion to install the proper lighting for night aircraft. COME IN AND SEE MINI FREE MINERAL MDSE UM ra awe yaws 51 ST. TfAVID ST., GODERICN, ONT. 524-9972 3oDAY CARPET SUPER SPECIAL JUTE ®ACK MULTI TONED CUT & LOOP SHAG CARPET by Venture 10 COLOURS TO CHOOSE FROM REG. '18.00 Sq. Yd. UNTIL JUNE 30th, 7978 INSTALLED WITH PAD, MATERIAL & LABOUR $1 495,..,: O sq. yd. Introducing New To Our Stock B & B MASONRY PRODUCTS •Pre Cast Steps • PatioStone • Sidewalk Slabs •Cement Pic Nic Tables •Iron Railings Come in and ask about them. Gord Smith CARPETS 2 Miles East of Goderich on Hwy. No. 8 Phone 524-7123 H RRY!!! THERE'S STILL TIME TO CATCH IT! 'I The Growing Season that is! And you'll catch this season's best growers at THE TREE SHOP AND GARDEN CENTRE Smith's Form & Garden Centre's NEW OUTDOOR SHOP THE TREE SHOP & GARDEN CENTRE FOR ALL YOUR The Best in QUALITY The PRICES ARE RIGHT In the Parking lot at the Corner of SOUTH ST. and ELGIN AVE. BLOOMIN' NEEDS We still have a flue selection of Boautlful and Healthy TREES & SHRUBS & EVERGREENS Don't Forget your FLOWER AND VEGETABLE The Finest in LAWN ORNAMENTS ALL VARIETIES AND PLANTERS BOX PLANTS THE TRII.°EtSH®� for Both quality and Price. 'FARM co, GAkDEN CENTER . 82 South St. Goderich 5248761