Collegedale Renames Airfield

By Mike O’Neal, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

May 6–Officials in Collegedale on Monday dealt with change: a new name for the airfield, planning for a new budget and shifting dates for municipal elections.

Commissioners were unanimous in changing the name from Linn Field to Kinzer-Linn Field at the city-owned airport.

“When we started the town, I went to the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission and told them we needed help with an airport,” said Collegedale Commissioner Fred Fuller, who was mayor when the town was chartered in 1968.

The facility that began as a 1,200-foot-long grass strip in a cow pasture operated by the Collegedale Flying Club is in the process of having another 300 feet of tarmac added to its current 4,700 feet of asphalt runway.

The field was named for one of the original members of that flying club and the name change will recognize another, one who also served as the airport’s first manager, Mr. Fuller said.

“We had an 80/20 grant, the state paid 80 percent but we didn’t have the money for our part,” Mr. Fuller said. “Aubrey Kinzer did not charge us to bulldoze and prepare the runway for paving. He was there from the start.”

Mayor John Turner, a licensed pilot, assured his fellow commissioners that modification to the airfield name would be regarded as insignificant by the Federal Aviation Administration and chart makers.

“It will still be the Collegedale Airport,” he said.

The city assumed operations of the airport in 1972 and today the award-winning facility is consistently among the state’s busiest, according to Airport Manager Frank Zarski.

The airport is self-supporting and operates with an annual budget of about $600,000, he said.

City Recorder Cristy Pratt advised the commissioners that everything is ready for discussion of the overall city budget during a public workshop scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday.

The budget for fiscal year 2009 should be ready for first reading at the May 19 commission meeting, she said.

Discussion about moving the date of city elections from March to coincide with state and national elections was postponed until the May 19 commission meeting.

Advantages of shifting the election cycle is an increase in voter turnout and cost savings, officials said.

“It costs about $6,000 for a special election,” Vice Mayor Tim Johnson said. “Every little bit of savings helps.”

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