To the publisher,

I support a “yes” vote on Douglas County Question 1-Airport Use Ordinance. This is an important issue for Douglas County residents.

I served on the Minden-Tahoe Airport Advisory Committee and participated in the more than 40 public meetings to craft the ordinance. We did this because the existing weight ordinance is “discriminatory” in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) opinion and unenforceable in the eyes of the district attorney. This is the case because the weights specified in the existing ordinance are arbitrary. The limits need to be based on objective engineering evaluation.

Residents need control to ensure the Minden-Tahoe Airport (in the Carson Valley) retains the area’s rural character. The goal of the use ordinance is to preclude expansion and pursue general aviation and sport recreational uses including soaring.

Most important, however, is that because FAA found the existing weight ordinance discriminatory there will be no further federal funding of maintenance or support of the airport unless the new ordinance is adopted. If Question 1 does not pass, approximately $1 million annual cost will reduce the already strapped Douglas County budget. The impact will be felt by parks and recreation, senior services and the library.

Please vote “yes” on Douglas County Question 1 to control and fund our airport.

Mike Bradford, Zephyr Cove