Blum is
trying to paint a picture of being persecuted and picked on by the FAA and
MoDOT. Imagine that, a bully complaining
about being bullied.
Mayor
Blum asked if there were any other items the Board would like to discuss, but
it would be his recommendation to the Board that we once again do what they ask
us to do, we have done this all along, and at some point there has to be foul
cried on our part, we are doing everything they are asking us to do,
Including
this here.
This
is pure political propaganda.
Blum has
repeated over and over and over, what he believes to be, and has reported after
the FAA DC meeting, that the FAA is guiding them on a step by step process of
getting an FAA closure, and that the city has “done everything they have asked”.
MoDOT along
with the FAA, but especially MoDOT, has been looking into the finances of St.
Clair since 2008, when the city admitted that they were not using all of the
airport revenue for use on the airport. The
city has been reluctant to cooperate. How did they respond to a FEDERAL OIG
investigation?
The hotline
complaint investigation confirmed the City deposits airport revenue into the
City’s general fund. During the investigation, the City was asked to present a
clear accounting history of airport revenue. In its reply, the City provided
accounting ledgers and general fund records from 2003 through 2008. The FAA
reviewed the documentation provided and made the following determination:
The City‘s financial
records are not complete. Airport
revenue and expenses must be
separate from the General Fund so separation of funds can be determined.
Six years of
trying to hide financial information from the Federal Government.
§46313. Refusing to appear or produce records
A person not obeying a
subpena or requirement of the Secretary of Transportation (or the Under
Secretary of Transportation for Security with respect to security duties and powers
designated to be carried out by the Under Secretary or the Administrator of the
Federal Aviation Administration with respect to aviation safety duties and
powers designated to be carried out by the Administrator) to appear and testify
or produce records shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than
one year, or both.
You know, When I run into the government and don't understand what they want, there is always someone I can call to clear up the problem. I don't understand why Blum is sitting back and trying to understand legaleze, when he could call MoDot, the FAA, AOPA, etc and find out he can't close the airport because the FAA won't let him, no matter what he does.
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