ISAS Special Meeting
A special meeting was called to discuss the
proposed FAA fencing issue at 7S5.
The Oregon Department of Aviation had requested
a single response to the proposed fencing of the airport. O.D.A. provided ISAS
and those affected with a schematic of the proposed 7S5 fencing.
A number of issues were discussed by the group
including; Fence location, height of fence, type of fence, overrun area to the
north of 7S5, gate locations. ADA access and the general feel and look of a
fence in a residential setting.
After discussion the group agreed on most issues
and President Ken Hardwick is to send a letter to John Wilson at O.D.A. and
express those thoughts.
As a result of the special ISAS meeting the
following letter was sent to the O.D.A. on June 11, 2020.
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Independence State Airport Support Group.
Airport
Business’s / Hangar Lessee’s / EAA Chapter 292 / O.P.A Polk County / HOA North
Park / HOA IAHA
Ken
Hardwick - ISAS Chairman -
Independence, Oregon.
June
12, 2020
John
P. Wilson
Oregon
Department of Aviation
Salem,
Oregon
Dear
John,
This
is the response from the ISAS Group concerning the O.D.A. Fencing Proposal at
7S5.
ISAS
represents and is the voice of all entities at the Independence State Airport.
A
one on one discussion was conducted the week of June 8th with most
of the stakeholders of the airport. A group follow up meeting was held on
Thursday, June 11, 2020 for those not personally contacted for a one on one. 35
people attended the Thursday meeting.
The
following are the results from those meetings;
Fencing Size Issue
We
strongly oppose a 7’ high fence with barbed wire on the entire Eastside of the
airport.
There
currently is an 18’ wide X 5’ deep moat on the East side along Airport Road
which already drastically enhances security. Adding a 7’ fence with barbed wire
next to the moat will only give the look of a maximum security prison at our
residential airport. We don’t believe adding a 7’ high barbed wire fence will
actually do anything to enhance the security of the airport.
We
recommend a 6’ high chain-link fence with no
barbed wire on the East side of the airport.
Also
FYI, the current fencing on the South end of 7S5 along Hoffman Road is only 6’
high.
We
do not object to the 7’ high barbed wire fence on the West side of the airport.
(Southwest
Layout Drawing)
We
also strongly object to a fence on the North end of Runway 34. Safety should be
our #1 priority. Giving up the overrun and runway safety area should not be
considered. This runway is our no wind and most used active runway. Emergencies
can and do happen.
(North
Layout - Drawing Attached)
Also,
a fence on the North end would do nothing to enhance security anyway as the
fence (as proposed) abruptly ends and anyone can simply walk around.
12’ Wide Swing Gate
There
is an objection to the 12’ swing gate between the EAA Hangar and the Nutsch
Hangar.
Our
request is to have an electric cantilever gate between the two hangars, the
same as the “existing auto cantilever gate” that opens into the Southend
hangars. These two organizations
(F.B.O.
and EAA Chapter 292) can have a high volume of legitimate auto traffic.
EAA / Reid Hangar Area
These
two organizations are requesting a 15’ East extension of the fence. The area is
currently used by both as a storage area. Because of its use as a storage area
we are requesting “privacy slats” in the fence at this location. (EAA-Reid Drawing Attached)
Restaurant / Bartle
Hangar Area
The
ISAS proposal for this area is better for everyone. This proposal saves parking
spaces for the restaurant customers, keeps the flag area accessible to the
public and still provides Bartle’s new hangar with plenty of access. This
should be an easy decision.
(Bartle-Starduster
Drawing Attached)
The
restaurant is concerned about the 4’ man gate next to their facility. The gate
at this location should have a good ADA access from the parking lot.
Future
The
ISAS members are concerned because at this time we have not had any security
issues at 7S5. The group would really like to better understand what it is that
the FAA or ODA is trying to accomplish with this new fence. If a security issue
should arise in the future we should definitely take another look at this. At
present it appears we may be trying to fix a problem that just doesn’t exist.
I
will be glad to meet with you at 7S5 to answer any questions you may have or
you can call me at most any time.
Sincerely,
Ken Hardwick
Ken
Hardwick
ISAS
Chairman
503-420-6010
Sent
Via email and US Mail