Commissioners to consider county-owned airports' fate

The fate of three county-owned airports and the authority that oversees them is expected to be settled by Collier County commissioners next month.

Earlier this week, a committee of Immokalee residents vented their anger with a Collier County staff proposal to phase out the Immokalee airport, controlled by the Collier County Airport Authority.

Under heavy criticism by movers and shakers in Immokalee, a county planner at the Immokalee Area Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee meeting earlier this week ripped up the recommendation and said the airport-closing option is off the table for now.

But the possibility will be considered by Collier commissioners at a meeting next month. Staff plans to give the commission a list of reasons to keep the airport open.

Winona Stone, assistant to the county manager, said the meeting will be either Dec. 2 or 16.

Stone said staff is recommending that the Immokalee and Marco Island airports remain open, but commissioners will make the decision.

Staff will recommend that possible alternatives to an airport be considered for county-owned property at Everglades Airpark in Everglades City, Stone said.

"We're recommending additional research. ... Do you want to sell it for residential? Do you want to have a park? There are a lot of different options, such as opening a boat launch," Stone said.

The fate of the Airport Authority and its three airports has been hanging in the balance for the past year, as county officials have said they are growing tired of the yearly tax subsidy to balance the authority's budget.

The authority is a semi-autonomous board that runs the airports, but it has yet to take in enough revenue from fuel sales and leases in the past decade to cover its budget without a county subsidy each year.

In an effort to cut back on this tax subsidy, county officials have also discussed a possible merger of the Collier County Airport Authority with the Naples Airport Authority, be it a complete merger or a consolidation of functions, such as purchasing.

Stone said staff will recommend a study of all the possibilities of a merger between the authorities.

A memo from County Manager Jim Mudd to commissioners details possible alternative land uses for the airports and what hurdles might have to be cleared to close them.

The county acquired the Everglades Airpark on June 18, 1968, by warranty deed from Everglades City Properties Inc.

Although the county owns the property, it was zoned by the Everglades City Council. The current zoning is "aviation commercial," which limits it to aviation-related uses, related commercial and light-industrial uses.

"If the property were to be used for purposes other than an airport, the City Council would have to rezone the property," Mudd's memo states.

Mudd's memo points out that the market value for the 31.72 acres is $755,365 under the current zoning. A rough estimate of the land value if the property were rezoned residential is $7.6 million.

Everglades City officials have expressed reservations about closing the airport.

All grant money received to improve Everglades Airpark was from the Florida Department of Transportation. Because no other Florida airport has received DOT grants and ceased operations, it is unknown how much, if any, of the $1.1 million would have to be paid back.

"Selling the Marco Island and Immokalee airports does not appear to be a feasible option; however, if the board wishes to pursue this option, further research is needed," Mudd's memo states. "Selling part or the entire Everglades Airpark property appears to present some potential."

Mudd's memo goes on to say that a developer has expressed an interest in purchasing the Everglades City property for a single-family home subdivision, and Conservation Collier and the Collier County Parks and Recreation Department have expressed an interest in the property.

"A minimum of five to seven acres would be needed for a boat ramp and parking, but the department has noted that the whole 32 acres could be utilized for a boat launch and park with associated activities," Mudd's memo states.

Stone said any effort to completely close the Immokalee Airport would be very involved, and probably be opposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. This property was obtained by quit claim deed in 1960 under the Federal Surplus Property Act.

It contains a clause that the property shall be used for public airport purposes for the use and benefit of the public.

There are other potential hurdles to closing the airport.

The Immokalee Airport and industrial park have received more than $6.4 million in grants from five different agencies through fiscal 2002, and whether this money would have to be paid back if the airport closed is a major question mark.

These hurdles weren't outlined in the staff recommendation that caused the furor in Immokalee earlier this week.

Stan Litsinger, the county's comprehensive planning manager, made a recommendation to gradually phase out the airport.

"The existing raceway operation is successful, and should be expanded, if possible. ... The 20-unit campground could be expanded into a larger, full-service facility," the staff recommendation stated. "Additionally, the county should consider establishing other tourist and/or recreational facilities on airport grounds."

Litsinger said the recommendation was designed to point out possible alternative land uses that might not be as draining on county coffers as an airport. He said it is apparent that the airport is a "sacred cow," and he has decided not to do any planning for that property until the County Commission makes a decision.

"The issue of the entire airport system and airport authority and the bath the taxpayers have been taking on an annual basis has been present in local public debate for some time," he said. "You are aware that any time you raise the issue or ask a question, if it isn't in support of the status quo or further spending of tax dollars, then you are some sort of a barbarian, so to speak. So we'll be silent about it."

Collier Commissioner Jim Coletta said he wants county staff to be able to freely express their professional views. He said in this case he wished the planning staff would have given commissioners some advance notice.

"I don't want staff to get so scared that they never respond with own opinion," he said. "However, in this case a little more sharing of information in the direction they were going would have helped."

Immokalee residents say they see that airport as a potential money-maker for Collier County, especially if the runway is expanded to allow larger aircraft to land. But staff's recommendation pointed out that despite a lot of talk about this, it has yet to happen.

Gene Schmidt, executive director of the Collier County Airport Authority, said lengthening a runway is an extensive process.

"There is a very detailed procedure that must be followed to accomplish any of these things," he said. "One cannot say, 'We're going to build a runway,' and start building it tomorrow, like you would put a driveway in at your home."

Collier Commissioner Donna Fiala said she was pleased to learn staff will recommend the Immokalee airport stay open.

"The Immokalee Airport has just begun economic initiatives there. We are on the brink of Ave Maria University and the town, and the growth that is going to be occurring in that area," she said. "It's kind of like closing the doors of the barn before the horse gets there."