Airport Central to Development Use Technology to Inform All

The Fayette County/Joseph A. Hardy III airport had languished for years upon years before much action was initiated to even attempt to develop the property further than its miniscule runway permits. While we're not supportive of tax monies going towards that which private business can do best - such as providing bus service to area residents cross-county - we are supportive of those infrastructure projects that can only be accomplished with government involvement.

An airport that enables saftety and provides potential out-of-area travel accomodations is a must for any real economic development in the general area.

Articles note a bit of a glitch in engendering a spirit of cooperation among officials who all have a stake on behalf of constituents to see progress arrive at the airport, and soon, not just a continued round of talks upon talks we've seen for some decades now.

Airport meeting vexes Fayette County commissioner
By Judy Kroeger
DAILY COURIER
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/fayette/s_583936.html

Zimmerlink quizzes air authority members
By Amy Revak, Herald-Standard
08/20/2008
Updated 08/19/2008 11:02:39 PM EDT

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20081809&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=468520&rfi=6

Joe Hardy has a long-standing relationship with the airport, maintaining a hangar there for many years. So interested in the progress there, Hardy over the past many years has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars and his political clout - well respected - to see the airport develop.

While often Hardy is criticized for desiring quick, quick, quick movement on projects that will benefit the county, he shouldn't be criticized on this one because development at the airport has been "talked" about for at least the past 25 years.

Hardy's connections in the political world have raised eyebrows particularly when he was a Fayette County Commissioner for a 4-year stint. Citizens should at all times question their public officials, and question when public officials meet in private with agencies or organizations.

The secrecy only engenders thoughts of near conspiracy or back-room deals in the works. Deals that along the way require a lot of public taxpayer monies.

Apparently, state Senator Richard Kasunic, on break from Harrisburg duties til September 15 as are all state legislators, wanted to be kept in the loop and informed of any further situations about the airport.

That obviously happened within a short period of time. similarly with at least two Fayette County commissioners. Chairman Vincent Zapotosky was notified via personal cell phone, while it's unknown how colleague Vincent Vicites was notified of the meeting, he, too was apprised and attended.

Not so with Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink.

It's unsettling enough the public wasn't invited or even informed of the "talk" about how to potentially move the 911 emergency agency from its current quarters (a county building) to the airport facilities.

Such a move seems a natural, but now the public has its eyebrows raised from the secrecy and worse from a lapse in notifying each Fayette commissioner, personally, of the quickly-called meeting.

Such activity puts the public in a really bad mood about whatever might in fact be a benefit and boon to economic development in Fayette.

And Fayette needs every boost it can get, having been in the category of "distressed" for some at least five or six DECADES.

While political egos should not have to be massaged, it's not only beneficial to board-of-commissioner-appointed airport officials to promptly inform each commissioner of such meetings, it's of crucial benefit to the county to have every commissioner participate in such meetings, even if such are not exactly open to the public. At least our representatives would be present to look out for our best interests. And potentially weigh in with perspectives as beneficial to the county as any others.

County commissioners don't just represent a particular category of citizens of the county, they represent all the citizens, no matter socioeconomic, political, status.

Personal cell phone numbers as well aren't absolutely necessary in the event normal channels of phone communication at the Courthouse aren't effective in reaching someone to notify of upcoming quickly-called meeting.

There's such a thing called email and that can be accessed by our elected public servants even on weekends, on vacation, at home, and in some cases, in the car in transit, or walking to the grocery store, or in the grocery store, etc.

Most cell phones are equipped with an optional email service. Our commissioners should by now have such phones and should make use of the optional service, within reason.

It's long been said Fayette County is at least a decade behind any other county in any other state in the USA.

Only attitude and action will change that perception sooner rather than later. Possibly when it's too late a perception to change.

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