Letters to the editor

Money better spent on jobs than other things

Dear editor:

I am writing in response to an article in the July 27 issue about concern over the new airport.

First of all, do the citizens that are so concerned currently have job stability? Many of our citizens do not as of the cut backs that came Tuesday. The current city administration and council are in a very rough place. Because of the past administration (and some who are still there), there have been and will be difficult decisions to be made.

Now, how in the world can anyone expect the new airport to be the most important and essential thing on this administration's plate right now? They have just kicked 20-30 (media reports differ) faithful employees to the curb. At least one of which was only 1 year away from receiving full retirement benefits. Think of that, 26 years of being a faithful employee, hardly using any sick or vacation time and being that close to being able to retire with full benefits. Now this person will have to find a new job at the age of 53 and keep on plugging for 10 or 12 more years. You know what? For a lot less money than the city will have to put into the new coveted airport, that employee could have made it through to his last year. How about a garage sale or donations to make that happen?

Also, if this employee had been asked, he would have been loyal enough to take a pay decrease to stay employed until next year.

Our streets are atrocious! I think if the city could spare any money right now the streets would be a higher priority, as ALL the citizens would benefit from that.

Maybe when they repair all the damage to the budget, then the airport would be a good idea.

If the city goes bankrupt, there probably won't be a huge need for any airport, old or new.

Vicki Alsup

via e-mail,

Airport improvements still needed

Dear editor:

As chairman of the Airport Board of Nevada, I have been excited for the past 3 years about the opportunity of getting a new terminal building to replace the tired old one that has serviced us well for over 50 years. In spite of the current (and temporary) financial crisis affecting the city, it is time to move forward with the terminal building and runway improvement projects. The updated facilities at the airport will be good for Nevada, and will be an attraction for new business. We need to have an attractive "gateway" to the city for visitors. As reported in the "Daily Mail," there is currently a proposed aircraft-related business considering locating at the airport, having been referred by the state economic development commission.

If we fail to take advantage of the grant for the terminal project, this business will locate elsewhere, and we will not be in a position to attract others.

Also, the city will not likely be a candidate for any more CDBG grants anytime in the forseeable future. It is not likely that we would be able to replace the terminal building for another 20-30 years if we don't seize the chance to do it now.

The runway project is funded in the form of a matching grant, with Nevada responsible for 5 percent of the cost. That's like getting a $100,000 house for only $5,000. And the loan to repay our portion is low-interest and can be long term. There is concern over the plan to shorten the present runway from 5,900 feet to 5,000 feet.

This is mandated due to the types and frequencies of flights from our airport in years past.

This is not a major problem, in my opinion. The city of Lebanon has a number of business jets based there, and their runway is 5,000 feet long by 75 feet wide. (Ours is to be eventually widened to 100 feet.)

Let's don't "throw out the baby with the bath water." Let's do what's right for Nevada in the long run, and that is to complete the runway renovations and build a terminal building that will be the envy of communities our size across the state.

Dr. Ron Jones

Nevada