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Airport Neighbors Want Answers

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 April 2006, 18:00 CDT

By Jim Carroll, Erie Times-News, Pa.

Apr. 26--Millcreek resident Jack Flanagan showed up at the Erie Municipal Airport Authority meeting Tuesday looking for answers, and he said his neighbors want answers, too.

But Flanagan left still wondering when, or if, his 3253 West 13th St. home will be purchased to make way for an expanded runway at Erie International Airport.

"People want to know what they are supposed to do with their homes," Flanagan said. "People want to put additions on, they want to make improvements. They want to know if there is going to be money to soundproof homes if they are not taken."

And Flanagan was not the only one asking when the airport plans to contact homeowners and businesses to be acquired for the $53 million project, which will push the end of its runway eastward by 1,900 feet.

Erie City Council President Rubye Jenkins-Husband was also at the session to see if airport officials had any more information on property acquisition.

"Business people are calling. People from the trailer park are calling," Jenkins-Husband said. "It would be helpful if we had a report on that."

Flanagan said he and his neighbors have not had any further word from the airport since a public meeting in September.

Airport Executive Director Kelly Fredericks, who is out of the country on business, said in a phone interview that property owners should not have to wait much longer for information, although he could not yet tell them exactly when to expect to hear from the airport's consultants. Airport officials again met with representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration last week, and believe they are getting close to getting authorization to make at least the first round of offers, he said.

"They have been waiting a long time. We really do have to get out there and meet with them," Fredericks said. "It's in the works, but I don't have a definite date I can give yet."

Airport officials earlier this year scheduled tentative meeting dates for property owners, only to have to cancel those dates when the approval process did not move as quickly as they anticipated.

Previously announced plans called for 19 homes, six businesses and 103 mobile homes to be acquired for the project, with another 16 homes listed as "optional acquisition."

Flanagan said he believes the acquisition area runs between his home and his garage.

Flanagan said people from within the area want information about when acquisition will happen and what relocation benefits would be, while those whose homes might not be acquired want to know if the airport will offer a noise-abatement program to add soundproofing to homes.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Erie Times-News, Pa.

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Source: Erie Times-News

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