WHATS ON THE TABLE?????

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Central Region 901 Locust 

Federal Aviation Iowa, Kansas, Kansas City Missouri 64106 

Administration Missouri, Nebraska (81 6) 329-2600

December 28, 2012

Mayor Ronald Blum
City of St. Clair
#1 Paul Parks Dr.
St. Clair, MO 63077
Dear Mayor Blum:

Thank you for your letter dated August 30, 2012, about the City of St. Clair’s (City) formal request to close the St. Clair Regional Airport (K39).

In accepting Federal Airport Improvement Program funds, the City signed a grant assurances contract and agreed to specific federal obligations, including the commitment to keep the airport open and to make it available for public use as an airport. The City may not close the airport without the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s consent and without a formal release from its applicable federal obligations.

When evaluating a sponsor’s request to close a federally obligated airport, the FAA considers a number of pertinent factors. These factors include the sponsor’s past and present compliance record and its actions in making the airport available for aeronautical use by the public. In light of the FAA’s concerns about the City’s apparent unwillingness to maintain St. Clair Regional Airport available as a usable airport, the Agency will not consider closing St. Clair Regional Airport, as the city requested several months ago, until the city corrects deficiencies at the airport.
The corrective actions include:

 Conducting adequate repairs and the regular inspection of pavement surfaces, runway safety areas, and airport lighting systems including the airport beacon, runway lights and the lighted windsock. The obligation for the City to maintain these facilities exists as long as the airport is used for airport purposes or until the FAA releases the City from this obligation;

Working with the State of Missouri to address operational and financial issues raised by the Department of Transportation Office of inspector Genera!; and

 Resolving the formal complaint filed under 14 CFR Part 16 and the recent informal complaint regarding the increase in tenant rental fees.

                                                                                                                                                                          

Again, the FAA has placed the City’s request for closure on hold. Future discussions will be limited to issues related to the City completing the steps detailed in this letter, including correcting the known safety violations at the airport, adequately addressing your outstanding Part 16 and Part 13 compliance complaints and completing an acceptable corrective plan related to the OIG Hotline complaint. Should you require clarification, please contact me at 816-329-2601,

Sincerely,

Jim Johnson
Airports Division