St. Clair R-XIII Still in Support of Airport Closure

The St. Clair R-XIII School District became the second local entity to reaffirm its support to the city in its pursuit to close the St. Clair Regional Airport.

During the board’s May 10 meeting, a letter sent to the city signed by Superintendent Michael Murphy was approved as part of the consent agenda.

“The district continues to support the lawful closure of the airport as long as the purpose is to stimulate economic growth,” Murphy stated in the letter. “We agree that the city of St. Clair that building commercial growth within our community will help to alleviate the tax burden to our local citizens.”

The R-XIII board of education first supported the city’s efforts to close the airport in 2010 when during the July board meeting a similar letter of support was written and delivered to city hall.

In 2009, the city finished its comprehensive plan which showed economic growth as a priority and targeted the airport land as a prime place to develop.

The school district, fire and ambulance districts and the St. Clair Area Chamber of Commerce supported the city then and have been asked to reaffirm that support now.

During its April meeting, the Chamber’s board of directors passed a resolution reaffirming support of the closure, and the general membership followed suit afterward.

That resolution was presented to Mayor Ron Blum by Chamber board of directors President Keith E. Domke during the board of aldermen’s May 7 meeting.