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County dismisses airport policy foes By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Despite controversy over a revised lease agreement policy at the Medford airport, Jackson County commissioners say they consider the matter closed. "We respectfully disagree with you," Commissioner Sue Kupillas said to more than a dozen airport tenants who attended Wednesday's board meeting. "Let's move on." Residents who opposed the ordinance came to argue their case following a presentation on the policy by Airport Director Bern Case. Although many hoped to speak out, public input was limited to a total of 15 minutes. The weekly meeting had been shortened because of public hearing on land use issues slated afterward. County commissioners in April 2000 adopted a policy that reverts to the county the ownership of buildings built and leased by tenants at the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport. Prior to the policy, Case said lease agreements varied widely. They included various options such as reversion, renewal or removal when expired. When existing lease agreements now expire, Case said the county will negotiate a new contract under the policy. The new policy gives tenants the option to remove their structures, leave them to the county or rent them from the county, Case said. The county now owns 75 of the 100 hangars or service stations at the airport and rents those structures to businesses. Case said the new policy meets Federal Aviation Administration standards that require equal treatment of all tenants and added that the new policy is good business. "It just makes sense," Case added. But Medford retiree Edward Bernard, secretary of the county pilots association, called the policy unfair. He said many tenants inherited lease agreements, built structures on the county-owned land and invested funds into their businesses. "This policy is actually bad for taxpayers," Bernard argued before the board. "You had other options. You could have been fair within the policy." County officials said reversion policies aren't a new concept locally. "The airport is not the only facility the county has private developments on," Commissioner Jack Walker added. County Administrator Sue Slack cited libraries leased between cities and counties. She also highlighted the Jackson County Sports Park. Although the park is county owned and leased to the private sector, more than $1 million has been pumped into the Southern Oregon Speedway. The speedway, which is part of the park, will eventually revert back to the county, Slack added. Diane Davidson, Republican challenger for county commissioner position No. 3, is the spokeswoman for the pilot's association. "There's no question the county has the right to reversion," Davidson said. "The question is, is it fair? It's not." She believes commissioners did not take the concerns of the pilots association and tenants seriously. "It has negative impacts on the economy of the airport," Davidson added. "These profit centers the governments are building are not a positive thing." The pilots association earlier this year filed a complaint with the FAA regarding the new policy. However, the FAA found no fault with the county's policy and ordered no changes. The pilot's association this spring met with Sen. Gordon Smith and discussed concerns about the issue. Smith requested that FAA officials investigate again. No decision has been announced, but Case said he's positive the federal government will again rule in favor of the county. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.