I have known John Ritchey almost since I moved to Durango in 1980. I believe that Ritchey is a good man but that his recent letter (Herald, Aug. 16) decrying our proposed airport is dead wrong. This continues a series of negative comments by Ritchey about a part of La Plata County that is critical to our future. Our corner of Colorado is unique in that we only have access to our state through our highways and the airport.
Ritchey’s comment that we are proposing a $90 million reconstruction is incorrect. After discussions months ago with our consultants, the county commissioners and Durango City Council decided on a number far less at $40 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration has tentatively agreed to fund an additional $40 million, which would come to us as proceeds from user fees from flyers. Our average residential tax increase would be less than $5 per month.
“Yes for DRO!” is not funded, nor was it established, by the city of Durango or any other public agency, but by private contributions, consistent with Colorado’s Fair Campaign Practices Act.
Third, the Economic Development Alliance-commissioned focus groups revealed that most people knew very little about the expansion proposal or the Master Plan, which is the basis for it. Frank Lockwood’s title as the “Education Coordinator” accurately represents the purpose of “Yes for DRO!”
Fourth, the estimated 100,000 people per year in our “catchment area” who go elsewhere was from a study done by Sixel Consulting using actual ticket purchases and verified by our airport operations manager.
The economic impact numbers Ritchey questions were prepared by Colorado State University professors and is also available at Yes for DRO!’s website. The airport generates 1,900 jobs locally, in many facets of our economy.
Instead, Ritchey cites Region 9 statistics, but Region 9 has never looked at the economic impact of the airport.
A new facility gives us more flexibility that could lead to improved air service at a lower cost than presently exists. I am voting “yes” in November for DRO.
Steve Parker, chairman Durango-La Plata County Airport Commission
Durango
