Lacombe’s airport could go up for sale after disagreement between City and operator

During the brief discussion on the matter at the July 8 meeting, Mayor Grant Creasey stated:

“The members I know of at Lacombe Flying Club, they’re very reasonable and community-minded individuals. Apparently, each and every one of them must’ve been absent when this was discussed. I think the individuals who made this decision should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. This is not in support of our community, it’s despicable and I fully support the motion.”

There was little to no context given during the discussion in terms of what the mayor was talking about.

In a recent interview, Creasey clarified to rdnewsNOW that he was referring to a situation from last year in which the LFC rejected a City proposal to relocate a key community facility to the airport grounds.

Creasey wouldn’t share with us what the facility is because it’s only been discussed in private meetings; nor would the LFC confirm.

rdnewsNOW is aware of what the facility is, but is choosing to maintain its classified nature out of respect for the legislative process.

Creasey and Gullekson say the agreement for the LFC to operate the airport stipulates the property must be used for the betterment of the community, but LFC president Jon From contends the agreement also states it only be used for aviation purposes. The formerly proposed project is not aviation-related.

Neither the City nor LFC would outright provide rdnewsNOW with a copy of the lease agreement.

“It seems odd to me that the operator is given carte blanche veto power for anything that occurs on the municipal lands. Yes, they’re leaseholders, but when you consider the funding sources, it’s very disappointing,” says Creasey.

“The facility we want there was never intended to interrupt any of their operations or expansion plans.”

But that’s exactly what would happen, according to From, who says he trusts the City to do its due diligence in effecting a potential sale.

“As it was presented, the proposed project would’ve been to the serious detriment of the Lacombe Regional Airport and future airport operations. It would’ve restricted operations substantially, so we, as the operator, just could not support it,” he explains.

“It would’ve affected the Instrument Flight Rules, or IFR approach, to the runway, which would make the runway unusable for medivac traffic, IFR business traffic, flight training and even IFR recreational flights.”

From says the LFC spent two years developing its IFR approach.

“The project also would have restricted airport access and possibly resulted in some of our club members having to relocate to different hangars, which we’re not willing to do,” he adds.

IFR refers to a set of regulations which allow for aircraft to navigate in low-visibility weather conditions.

Councillor Gullekson notes there’s been around 25 per cent growth at the airport in terms of hangars, an indication that Lacombe’s airport is an attractive place to be.

“There’s got to be a reason they’re coming. I know we’re getting people out of Red Deer, some are from Calgary and Edmonton who’ve put their planes here. It’s not just the location, it’s got to be that it’s a great deal. We don’t know what they pay for their hangars, but it’s something that makes you wonder why there’s all the growth,” says Gullekson.

“The deal was originally designed to make the club viable long-term. So even if they said, ‘Let’s take a really close look at the project, and let’s see what designs we can come up with,’ — if they’d worked with us, it would’ve made it a lot better as far as the feelings.”

Gullekson notes that council, in recent months, rejected an ask by the LFC to allow living quarters within the hangars.

From says he doesn’t believe that decision was linked to their denial of the community facility, admitting that the LFC’s rezoning application was not as complete as it could’ve been, and that they’ll eventually revisit the matter.

From also leaves the door open to the proposed community facility, saying that other iterations of it, if more feasible, could be accepted as long as they won’t cause the aforementioned issues.

“The mayor has his personal comments and is entitled to his opinion,” From says of Creasey’s harsh comments at the meeting. “The City has not offered up any alternatives.”

Meantime, Gullekson says there are additional costs to putting the proposed facility elsewhere, though he can’t disclose other locations at this time. He believes nonetheless that the airport would be the prime location for it.

Gullekson says there’s currently just one of these facilities in town and that, “we need to move it and build a new one. It’s a major expense and the County is involved also.”

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by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Lacombe’s airport could go up for sale after disagreement between City and operator

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