Yakima aims to spark economy by assuming airport from county
YAKIMA, Wash-- Yakima county is willing to give its split share of the airport to the city.
Officials on both sides admit the airport won't succeed without a sole owner.
City manager, Tony O'Rourke, says revitalizing the airport could put Yakima on the map. He argues more people would chose to fly in and out of here, if the facility was improved. He also believes surrounding land could be developed for private and commercial use.
KIMA asked county commissioners what it would cost for Yakima to assume the airport.
They say it's too early to tell, but it seems the county might be willing to give it away.
"I don't want to speak for the commissioners, certainly, or for the negotiations," said County Commissioner, Rand Elliot. "I don't know if there's going to be money involved or not."
Folks around town have mixed opinions about the idea.
"I don't know why they shouldn't. It's going to keep the money here and not down the Tri-Cities or wherever it goes," said a Yakima woman.
"Anything that would benefit Yakima, I think would be good," said another.
"Economic development and tax revenue is always good for the city and the county, but there's always a concern when you're spending tax dollars," said a Selah man.
City council also has concerns.
Council Member Kathy Coffey says it could be bad if the city makes decisions too quickly.
"We're going to be responsible for all the money that's lost, if we lose money. Which, I think we will," Coffey said.
The city manager says only 1-in-4 Yakima residents even use the airport. He thinks attracting more locals alone could translate to success.
But only time will tell if it's really the ticket to economic improvement in the area.
The city will hold a study session in January, as well as a public meeting.
The county says if all goes well, negotiations could wrap up within a few months.
Officials on both sides admit the airport won't succeed without a sole owner.
City manager, Tony O'Rourke, says revitalizing the airport could put Yakima on the map. He argues more people would chose to fly in and out of here, if the facility was improved. He also believes surrounding land could be developed for private and commercial use.
KIMA asked county commissioners what it would cost for Yakima to assume the airport.
They say it's too early to tell, but it seems the county might be willing to give it away.
"I don't want to speak for the commissioners, certainly, or for the negotiations," said County Commissioner, Rand Elliot. "I don't know if there's going to be money involved or not."
Folks around town have mixed opinions about the idea.
"I don't know why they shouldn't. It's going to keep the money here and not down the Tri-Cities or wherever it goes," said a Yakima woman.
"Anything that would benefit Yakima, I think would be good," said another.
"Economic development and tax revenue is always good for the city and the county, but there's always a concern when you're spending tax dollars," said a Selah man.
City council also has concerns.
Council Member Kathy Coffey says it could be bad if the city makes decisions too quickly.
"We're going to be responsible for all the money that's lost, if we lose money. Which, I think we will," Coffey said.
The city manager says only 1-in-4 Yakima residents even use the airport. He thinks attracting more locals alone could translate to success.
But only time will tell if it's really the ticket to economic improvement in the area.
The city will hold a study session in January, as well as a public meeting.
The county says if all goes well, negotiations could wrap up within a few months.
I learned to fly first from listening to stories about flying from guys like Warren Hill and Charlie McAllister and Greg Smith at McAllister Field in Yakama (YKM) where I learned to fly light aircraft and Charlie taught me to be a flight instructor in one lesson when he said to me, âIâve been looking for you my whole lifeâ and he explained to me that pilots are âkinda hard to findâ and in that one lesson where Charlie had taught me that I am a pilot he also taught me how to profile pilots and how to share the joy of flying and in that one lesson Charlie McAllister had also taught me what eventually helped me to avoid teaching a terrorist to fly because the guy was not in it for the joy of flying like me and Charlie where so I turned the guy down who unfortunately went on to learn to fly from some other pilot but I was always in it for the joy of flying and I had always enjoyed flying out of McAllister Field except after the CITYOFYAKIMA and YAKIMACOUNTY first occupied the old weather service building and one night after I returned from an op in the Middle East and I was lucky to be alive and I was extremely exhausted and could not even walk home so I laid my bed roll down on the green grass at the weather service building and I quickly fell asleep only to be woken up some time later by a jack booted thug cop kicking me so I do not want either of the CITYOFYAKIMA or YAKIMACOUNTY standing armies at McAllister Field at all because they are the very NAZIS have been trying to get rid of in this world especially here in Yakama Nation (12 Stat. 951) which is in the United States of America and you can help me by joining my class action RICO lawsuit at http://ericzahlerofyakama.com
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