City Looks to Add Airpark Advisory Board Member

When it comes to filling the open seat on the Airpark Advisory Board which way will the city council sway.

Will it be a neighbor?

Elaine Granata and Lauren Hallahan live nearby the airpark and speak at its public meetings. They both applied.

Or what about an industry insider?

Bruce Brock worked as a pilot for Delta and before that was a Lt. Col. in the Air Force.

City leaders will have to choose one out of the six candidates that have filed applications to serve as a volunteer on the Airpark Advisory Board. The board offers insight into airpark matters and meets four times a year.

Two of the five current board members live close to the airpark, said Bill Morris, Marine and Aviation director. He would like to make sure the next member lives close too.

“One of the things we were specifically looking for was a neighbor,” Morris said. “That solved a lot of problems in prior years.”

Recently, the airpark has extended its hours and plans to do the same to its runway, embroiling some nearby residents.

Jay Polglaze reiterated Morris’ concern for adding a neighbor to the board, especially in light of recent dust ups between neighbors and the airpark.

“I would like to bridge that gap in the community,” Polglaze said. “I would like to see that airpark fulfill a bigger economic need as well... maybe to bridge that gap a neighborhood representative would be a great way to go.”

The open seat was Walt Crosby's who died earlier this year. He lived very close to the airpark.

Mayor George Cretekos commented on the amount of candidates to choose from:

“Good work on recruiting them... Whoever was responsible for that.”

If you go:

What: City Council meeting
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: , 112 S Osceola Ave