BIDDEFORD — A new report released last week states that city taxpayers would be liable for an estimated $2.2 million to close the Biddeford Municipal Airport.
The airport has been a focal point of controversy for decades.
There are those who have expressed support keeping the airport open for their own recreational use and/or as a potential economic generator for Biddeford and the region. Others have said they would like to see the airport close or at least stay as it is and not accept more money from the Federal Aviation Administration for maintenance or improvements.
In an attempt to get impartial answers to council questions about the current use, cost and other issues surrounding the airport, an airport research group was formed earlier this year.
Last week, the group ”“ made up of city staff and Council President Rick Laverriere ”“ presented the results of their work in a report entitled the “Regulatory Issues and Targeted Financial Impacts Related to a Preliminary Closure Evaluation of the Biddeford Airport.”
The report was discussed by city councilors during a recent workshop and received mixed reviews.
Because of the limited resources and expertise, the scope of the report was limited to the costs and other issues of closing the airport.
Environmental Code Officer Brian Phinney said there are a number of regulatory steps the city would need to take to close the facility, including getting a release from the FAA. There would also be a cost associated with closure.
The biggest cost, he said, would be payment to those who lease airplane hangars at the airport. As a result of the lease agreements, the city would be obligated to pay between an estimated $1.8 million and $2 million to fulfill the terms of the leases.
The remainder of the costs, said Phinney, would be to pay back a portion of grants from the FAA and the State Department of Transportation.
In addition, said Phinney, the city would be obligated to repay the FAA and state for a land grant. The estimated cost is about $5.4 million. However, he said, there would likely be no out-of-pocket expense to the city because the sale of the land could be used to pay off the grant.
Because the report mainly dealt with closure costs, Councilor Bob Mills said, “I’m extremely frustrated with the direction of this. ”¦ I wanted to know the cost for maintaining the airport, not closing it.
“I myself am not interested in closing the airport.”
Other councilors said they wanted more information before making any decisions regarding the airport.
For instance, Councilor Bradley Cote said he had a list of nine questions he wanted answered regarding the airport, but the report addressed only one of those. Questions regarding current airport use and other issues went unanswered.
To get additional answers to other questions, Laverriere said, the council would probably have to budget money to pay a consultant. Cote said he’d like to consider money for a consultant to study airport issues during the next budget cycle.
Mayor Alan Casavant noted that no decisions could be made during a workshop, and that there likely isn’t enough time left in the current council’s term to make an informed decision regarding the airport.
He said it would probably be up to the next council or a public referendum to deal with the issue.
In 2008, the public voted against closing the airport. At the time, the estimated cost of closing the airport was approximately $3 million.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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