jbkyle100

My Recent Comments

• Dear bgda, What's going to happen when you find out the city will not be able to close the airport? Are You going to move? Dear notconfused, I don't know where you get your information, I was out at the airport many times when Sam Walton flew in, he even flew in all by himself a couple of times, he was going to Union to inspect the stores. I don't know how you can say the airport didn't benefit the city in the past. Clark & Sons would not have grown as big as they did if they couldn't travel quickly. Belmont Trailer sales was the biggest trailer sales in Missouri when they flew people in to buy. Burnett Plumbing and heating flew regularly. How many other businesses who supported the city would you like to see here? And by the way, Wal-mart wanted to go in below the R & R center. When you talk about bigger business, be sure and notice the factory store mall in Warrenton, it was valued at $9,000,000 and just sold in auction for $800,000. Don't try to grow to fast, St. Clair doesn't have the market area. And who do you think is standing in line to buy? I haven't heard of one name.
  7 months ago
• Not confused- I don't know who you have been talking to, the airport supported itself up until the mayor tried to kill it. It was making in excess of $2000 a month to support itself. The city fathers are taking the stand that if they don't allow anything to be improved, rented, leased, or done at the airport, they can close it. The city is only losing money at the airport now because the city refuses to get it's head out of the sand and maintain it. Any business that isn't maintained will suffer. I know this airport very well, and as far property taxes, we paid $1000.00 a year to the county and city for the airport hangar we built because the city wouldn't build a much needed hangar. By the way, where were you when the city was approached by Walmart to build a store in St. Clair and instead built it in Union? How about when the city was approached by Walmart to build the first Super Center in Franklin County and it ended up in Washington? Many other businesses have approached the city and the councils over the years have said no. So don't blame the airport for no growth. You even had a chance to have a Cabela's, they wanted to come because of the airport. If retail goes outside of town, downtown will suffer. Question the businesses in downtown Washington and how they have to work to draw people to that area. Sad thing is the airport is as unsuccessful as the city of St. Clair. Jim Atkinson
  8 months ago
• Dear bgbad, At least I leave my real name. My family and I have paid thousands of aviation fuel taxes in the last 50 years that funded the airport and its improvements. How much have you paid? Maybe $5.00 a year but probably not. The airport actually pays for itself through hangar rental and personal property taxes. And it is not allowed to make money for the city by federal law, it can only make money for itself. Jim Atkinson
  8 months ago
• I'm sure that if the republican commissioner candidates read the law, they would find out closing the airport is not a decision made by any city or county. And I'm sure none of them would agree with the city if closing the airport was against federal law.
  9 months ago
• Way to go Bernie, I used to go to you in the 60's as did my Dad until we moved from St. Clair in 1985. I think you remember him, Fred Atkinson. Next time you're in Washington, come by my shop, Bubba's Shrimp at 216 Elm St and ave lunch on me. Jim
  9 months ago
• The city does not conform to the airspace system requirements because the city fathers won't do anything at the airport. This is gross negligence on the part of the city council. If the city would lease the open hangars, lease the main hangar, and even find an FBO, the airport would be self sufficient. There is plenty of land available for commercial expansion and if the city would go after the open property instead of wasting money trying to close the airport, they would be money ahead and 6 years ahead.
  10 months ago
• What the city doesn't want to realize, or maybe they think it doesn't matter. The airport belongs to the FAA, not the city, does hiway 47 or 30 belong to the city?
  12 months ago
• I totally disagree with the city's opinion that the city has not shown any positive growth for the city in the last fifty years. While it is true in the last few years the city has been keeping separate accounting records for the airport, thatis 3 years, before that the city never had a separate accounting of airport revenue and expenses. How soes the city know it has been a detriment? I know from personal experience that the city gained money on the airport due to gas receipts, hangar rental and tiedowns that were collected for the city. When the hangars were full up to when Mr Blum took over, the rental coming into the city was at least $2500 a month. That was every year for many years. It is the city's fault the airport is not making any money.
  12 months ago
• What most people in St. Clair don't realize is that 90% of the funds to build the airport were provided by a gas tax that was paid by the pilots of this fine nation. Therefore, St. Clair only gets 10% of the vote on closing the airport. Also, the city estimated that they would have to pay back the improvements done in the last twenty years and that cost would be $500,000, that is in addition to the money the airport sells for. So the airport gets sold, ALL that money goes to surrounding airports, then, the city has to come up with $500,000 to pay back the state. Where is that money coming from? Besides the money spent on the 300 page book the city sent to the FAA, the plane tickets to Washington, the per diem by our politicians, to Washington and back, Jefferson city and back, and oh yes, Kansas City and back. Does the city not believe what is told to them, or are they just demigods thinking they can do whatever they want?
  Apr 26, 2012