Listen to voters and don't extend runway
On May 19, Wheeling trustees, the Prospect Heights city council and the directors of Chicago Executive Airport met for their annual joint meeting.
Minutes state: "Mr. Charlie Priester gave a presentation on the history of the airport and its need to stay relevant for the future. This would include a 7,000 ft. runway in order for jets to take off fully loaded with fuel for international flights. He believes a longer runway would bring additional business and jobs to the area, as well as increased fuel sales, which would benefit both municipalities. Mr. Priester is asking ... to conduct a study ... into the feasibility of acquiring a 7,000 ft. runway at CEA."
The professional service agreements with Mr. Priester and Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. indicate that preparation of this study, referred to as the CEA master plan, will cost over $300,000.
Property owners surrounding CEA have clearly stated they are against a 7,000 ft. runway. Our concerns include an increase in already excessive noise levels, an increase in pollution from aircraft fuel and a decrease in safety due to jets taking off with full fuel loads.
On Oct. 6, I requested VOW trustees place an advisory referendum on the April 2015 ballot to assess voters' preferences. Trustee Lang responded he doesn't know where people are getting the idea that the airport study has anything to do with runway expansion and insinuated the runway expansion was a fabrication of our imaginations. Trustee Lang also sits on the CEA board. He voted to accept and approve the joint meeting minutes.
Instead of trying to downplay the possibility of runway expansion, the VOW and its elected officials should respect the rights of voters to voice their opinions. Should CEA spend a large sum of money on a study that area residents are adamantly against? I don't think so.
Mary M. Papantos
Wheeling