After 2-hours of in-camera discussions
at the July 2, 2015, special council meeting the Warden would permit
only one motion:
“That Council direct the Warden, Deputy Warden and Chief Administrative Officer to meet with the representatives from Waterville Airport Cooperative Limited and the Freedom Aviation Society to discuss the temporary relocation of aircraft from the Waterville Airport to the Digby Annapolis Regional Airport and to report back to council as soon as possible.”
After this motion passed I sought permission to put
another motion on the floor but this was blocked by the Warden. Given that the majority of councillors do not question the wishes of the Warden, it would have
been unlikely that this motion would have succeeded but the motion I saw as necessary was:
“That, in the event that the date for the purchase of Waterville airport lands by Michelin be pushed further into the future, Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to bring a recommendation to council regarding an extension of the date of closure for the Waterville airport.”
Councillors, or at least this
councillor, entered this in-camera session without any prior
information about the several items and updates to be shared. Council was also without the benefit of legal counsel during the in-camera meeting.
Residents deserve a public discussion
of the current status of the airport relocation project. This needs to include
information regarding the status of the Michelin purchase, the delays and/or potential at 14-Wing Greenwood, and any other items those with first hand knowledge of our current municipal airport deem necessary.
My opinion is the time to look at sites other than 14-Wing Greenwood for the
relocation of a municipal airport is well overdue. Kings County is
letting the economic development that other municipalities enjoy
through the presence of civilian airports to pass it by.
We seem to have completely lost sight of the fact that an independent study showed beyond a doubt that our municipal airport at Waterville was a significant generator of jobs, that it provided aviation training for youth and residents, that it was a draw to the area for new businesses, that it provided service to existing businesses. Overall, it had great value to the Kings County economy.
While the relocation was tied to an expansion of Michelin we need to create a win-win by halting our neglection of the pressing need for a stellar civilian airport for the Kings County. Perhaps we should be talking to West Hants about a partnership as all indications point to the need for a site within a 1-hour or less drive from Halifax.
We seem to have completely lost sight of the fact that an independent study showed beyond a doubt that our municipal airport at Waterville was a significant generator of jobs, that it provided aviation training for youth and residents, that it was a draw to the area for new businesses, that it provided service to existing businesses. Overall, it had great value to the Kings County economy.
While the relocation was tied to an expansion of Michelin we need to create a win-win by halting our neglection of the pressing need for a stellar civilian airport for the Kings County. Perhaps we should be talking to West Hants about a partnership as all indications point to the need for a site within a 1-hour or less drive from Halifax.
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