DOG CRAP

I have flown to many of the airports in the state of Missouri, and I can state one thing to be absolutely for sure to be the truth.  They are all in better shape than St. Clair.  I would have to say that St. Clair is the bottom of the list, not close to or near, but the bottom.  The ones that seem to be doing the best, are the ones that are not operated by municipal governments.  Especially where there is a frequent turnover of city officials like St. Clair.  Take Kennett Missouri, Beautiful facility next to the country club and golf course.  Someone their told me that they thought the golf course was once part of the airport property.  When you land there, it gives a wonderful first impression about the town, the people in it and the people that run both the town and the airport. 

Not St. Clair.  I drove up to the ramp one day, and a twin engine Cessna 414 was unloading a bunch of parts that were flown in for a manufacturing plant in St. Louis.  I asked why St .Clair?  We needed to get the truck right next to the airplane, and we figured this was the best place.  Great for St. Clair, right!!!  But something spoiled it.  There were some stray dogs at the airport that had gotten into some trash.  They were nasty, wild, starving looking animals, and were eating some old hamburgers, growling at each other over their their score.  What a first impression.  The difference between beautiful Kennett Missouri, or Lewis County Airport in north east Missouri; and then St. Clair Missouri looking like a Texas teenage horror movie.  

I was told an old point of wisdom by a politician way back when.  If you want to know about how a town is being run, go out to their airport and look around. 

Look out for the dog crap.