HLM Airport - Township vote tonight to keep open or close

MyassisDragon

Line Up and Wait
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Dec 18, 2013
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Mr Fred
Just found out that park township put it on their agenda to vote on the fate of the airport tonight September 30 at 6:30 at Harderwyk Church, 1627 W. Lakewood Boulevard, Holland, Michigan 49464. I was under the impression it was just a vote to either move forward with an "Airpark plan" but they added an agenda to discuss and vote if they should even move forward as an airport.

It is open to the public if you would like to attend and there will be public comment at the end.

http://parktownship.org/wp-content/uploads/093019-board-agenda-specialmeeting4.pdf
https://aopa.org/news-and-media/all...icNk#utm_source=Editorial&utm_medium=Facebook
http://parktownshipairporthistoricalassociation.org/
 
Already know how this is going to go when they put that development off the east end, and that dickbag from Chicago (and yeah I met him) moved in and wants to turn Holland into his own feifdom. I already have a commitment tonight, or I would show up and cause problems.
 
Already know how this is going to go when they put that development off the east end, and that dickbag from Chicago (and yeah I met him) moved in and wants to turn Holland into his own feifdom. I already have a commitment tonight, or I would show up and cause problems.

Ed, Do you mean Dick Yutendale? how did you meet him?
 
Ed, Do you mean Dick Yutendale? how did you meet him?

Forget his name now. that name isn't ringing a bell though. This guy was out there when I was instructing and was basically there to tell us he was going to get the place shut down. Maybe it's a different person in charge, but this guy was gung ho and happy to tell us he's going to do what he can develop it. He was the twp manager/supervisor/whatever at the time.
 
I hope the local pilots prevail, but there are far to many pilots today that believe local communities should subsidize their hobby. This is a township operated airport; without a self sustaining economic plan, most these type airports are endangered.
 
I hope the local pilots prevail, but there are far to many pilots today that believe local communities should subsidize their hobby. This is a township operated airport; without a self sustaining economic plan, most these type airports are endangered.
Exactly, When a group of volunteers managed the airport under contract they got the airport to run cash flow positive from Hangar Rent and Fuel sales for a few years. Problem was there was not enough reserves to maintain big dollar infrastructure items, and it was thought if the township took the airport back then funds would get appropriated for bigger improvements. So the lease was broken two years ago and the township took back full control of the airports finances.

Since taking over they demolished 3 hangars with airport funds that could have been used for repair and the triple whammy of it all is now they have lost 3 hangars worth of revenue. Now the icing atop the cake is they are not signing any long term leases and giving potential new tenants the cold shoulder plus they turned the existing renters month to month. Since some people are leaving at the first opportunity and not many are filling their spaces, it leaves a couple of empty hangars and revenue even further down which gives the township more leverage claiming the airport is unsustainable. They did it themselves, and I would wager it was the plan all along.

There are private investors willing to a substantial amount of money into the airport but they are not going to put anything in if there is no guarantee the township wont close the airport tomorrow.
 
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