ashe

The county manager has already told two lies about the landing strip, how many more has he told. Does anyone have any hard facts that could support this land strip paving. Keep in mind that the entire price tag is our tax money. It just divides a little better on the federal end.

Actually, companies like GE regularly throw away $55 million over little things like this. It's common for things like headquarters to be relocated because a new CEO wants live in a different city.

Most assuredly, GE did not threaten to leave without airport upgrades. Companies don't invest $55M+ in a facility then get in a snit over a relatively minor issue, particularly with a perfectly fine one less than 45 minutes away in Wtilkesboro. If they had, however, they would not have expressed their concern to Ashe County since they have little respect for the Mouth Breathers and even less for the county manager or economic developer. They have long since come to the conclusion that local government on the county level is composed of blowhards and no-nothings.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/...k_2014_sfp

I'll just leave this here, are we really sure we want to increase the size of the airport, I mean this is the first one I can remember crashing but then my memory is spotty past 20 years ago.

I think we'll need guarantees that this sort of thing would not become commonplace, fortunately no one was killed.

(I based my statement off things I've heard though I have no direct quote from GE to back it up, it's just what I've heard on the grapevine, that they wanted the recent upgrades to the airport to remain here).

Timmmmeey it appears Tiger has your number and motives also. Maybe more will step up.

If it is vital for GE to remain in the county, then just say that. If that is the case I would like to challenge GE to put pressure on the board to expand the Community College as well. I am sure that having adequate training for your employees is much more important than an rinky dink airport.

See that Tom? Here I am, not baiting, not trolling, then you have to say something like that. If those select few want a playground, let them pay for it, not the taxpayers. I'm all about people enjoying their big expensive toys, but not at the expense my tax dollars.

And those select few deserve a decent playground.

Tell the clowns to have a hearing and present the public the businesses, corporations, that have requested this weight limit be increased. How many planes and who owns them use or will use the airport and start looking to lease this money pit out. Why do you think the county took it over in 2009?

Scott were you to look at the last three years airport budgets they are much more than 500K as is the Ashe park budget.

I agree, unless it becomes a regional airport, it's nothing but a playground for a few.

Does GE fly in to the county? I thought if they have people visit they fly into Charlotte and then drive from there.

Tom, again, I'm being respectful, but raising the weight limit of what "could" land here does not benefit the county. It's gambling with tax dollars. Maintenance is fine, but up-scaling the airport would only make sense if they turned it into a regional airport for people who don't want to drive to Charlotte or Greensboro to fly. Bring in the commercial airliners with their smaller planes. Smaller hubs work and have a positive impact on counties, economically speaking. Revamping for the sake of revamping is wasting tax dollars that would be better served elsewhere in the county.

Considering both of the last 2 county budgets had 500,000 going to the airport, I'd say it's economic impact is negative.

I believe the jobs are based on the fact that GE said it would pull out without the airport. I'm not arguing that's a reason to keep the airport but that would be the job impact they are alluding.

I'm assuming a repaving to just maintain current services would be significantly cheaper than the increased capacity. What demand does the county have to land planes up to 45,000 pounds?

270K from tax payer money for a crap airport that maybe 3 companies in this county use is pathetic, no matter what excuse anyone wants to throw around

Face it, if they want it to happen it will....

I want to know what 220 jobs are connected to the airport. With that many, surely someone can name at least 2 jobs in the county that are connected to the airport

Considering the clowns passed on an opportunity for an educational facility that could have brought jobs and kept our young population here in the county. Yet they would consider spending almost 300K on a landing strip that benefits a couple of people. priceless.

It was raise the weight limit of what can land at the airport, and also the current runway is not exactly in the best of shape. So therefore it becomes a safety issue for the pilots landing and taking off...

This county pisses away more money on useless things than any other small rural county I know of.

It s never owned by Marvin Stump. The article is wrong.