Airport holds final of four open houses
DEVIN WEEKS/Press Citizens review presentation boards of the Coeur d’Alene Airport Master Plan during the last of a four-part open house series Wednesday evening in the Coeur d’Alene Library Community Room. Those who missed the open house are welcome to send comments to [email protected].
Marjorie Russell of Hayden inspects several display boards of the Coeur d'Alene Airport Master Plan during an open house Wednesday evening in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — The final of four open houses for the public to explore the Coeur d’Alene Airport Master Plan was held Wednesday evening in the Coeur d’Alene Library Community Room.
More than 20 citizens were already examining display boards and discussing among themselves as the session opened at 4:30 p.m.
“I wanted to see how our county government is managing this scenario," said Bruce Kauffman of Post Falls. "I came here to see if I could get any insight into how it’s being managed and operated, because it’s a community resource."
Airport director Steven Kjergaard and others working on the project were on site to answer questions as people reviewed land use maps and projected timelines.
"I liked that it was long-range planning, that it was not short-sighted," said Marjorie Russell of Hayden. "I liked that there was a five- to 10-year plan, a 10- to 20-year plan."
Russell, who is a Realtor with Keller Williams, said she wanted to know more about how the plan will impact taxation in her area because it directly impacts her work.
The airport's role in local tourism is also something to be considered.
"Considering the fact that a great majority of our income is tourism, both in the winter time and the summer time, the kind of tourism that we offer appeals greatly to the people who have a lot more money and they need quick access in and out," she said. "If we want their money, we have to make it convenient for them to drop in and drop out."
Kjergaard said these open houses are important because airport officials want the public's feedback. He said the airport receives community input through its committees, "but we also want people who don’t have anything to do with the airport."
"Between ourselves, as the airport management, consultants and also those committees, we may miss something that somebody may just point out and very simply say, ‘That doesn’t make sense’ or, ‘Why are you doing it like this?'" he said. "It vets the information so that we can be properly prepared and so that people are fully informed in the decision because this airport is a very important piece of this community."
For those who missed the open house, comments and feedback will be accepted through September by emailing [email protected].
The Airport Master Plan is expected to be complete later this year.
Info: www.cdaairport.com