Lost Nation Airport Back in the News

Who knows what the fate of Lost Nation Airport will ultimately become.  Lost Nation Airport is Willoughby's Municipal Airport.

The News-Herald reported today that the Lake County Port Authority uploaded report materials. A link to the Port Authority's page used to access the materials can be accessed here.
Lost Nation Study v 2

The power point presentation uploaded to the Port's site cost the tax payers $60, 000; could they not even upload the pages in sequence without scribbling?  If warranted the next phase of the study will cost us $35, 000.

On New Years Eve we were told by the News-Herald that Jim Brown resinged from the Port Board.  The Mayor of Willoughby should never have signed a fixed based operator agreement with Jim Brown's Classic Aviation knowing he was being appointment to the Port Board.  When Willoughby City Council voted on Classic Aviation's bid to become the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) how much thought went into the conflict of interest created by Jim Brown being on the Port Board, a soon-to-be business owner at the airport, and owning a hangar at the airport?

If the conflicts of interest created by Jim Brown, the City of Willoughby, and County Commisioners was not bad enough the Port Authority has been notorious for having meetings that are not properly announced,  Port Board meetings at Private Bussinesses, and incorrect information given about times and dates for meetings.  Here is an excerpt from their website regarding the upcoming meeting:

The wrong time was identified at the February 3, 2010 Lake County Port Authority Board Meeting for the Lost Nation Airport Public Meeting. The meeting will take place between 5 and 7 p.m. on Monday, February 22 at the Lost Nation Sports Park, 38630 Jet Center Place. The correct time and date was correctly listed in the public notices placed in the News Herald on January 22nd and February 5, 2010.

Rumor has it a combination of pressure (i.e. bullying and campaign contributions) by Jim Brown and Kucerca International is driving the decision makers (i.e. the County Commissioners and Port Board) to find any way they can to keep Lost Nation Airport when the City can close it down in 2016.  Jim Brown and Kucerca International want their own airport and will do anything to get their own airport.

Delay of Game: Port Authority pushes report and public meetings back a few months

According to the News-Herald.com story, here, Lake County Port Authority Officials are delaying the feasibility study and report on Lost Nation Airport. Don't worry though, the Port Authority Executive Director says report is going well!

I wonder if the problem is really that Jim Brown, Port Authority Board Member and Lost Nation Fixed Based Operator (FBO), needs more time to convince fellows Port Board members that the prudent thing to do is buy the Airpot from the City of Willoughby.

Shame on Willoughby City Council for Authorizing Mayor Dave Anderson's request to enter into a contract with Jim Brown as the FBO for Lost Nation Airport.

I bet you that the report will conclude by suggesting that Lake County needs the Lost Nation Airport and that the Port Authority must make financial arrangements to buy it from Willoughby!

Lost Nation Airport: Always More to A Story

Today's News-Herald mentions that the long awaited report that will SUPPOSEDLY help to decide the fate of Willoughby's Lost Nation Airport. This is part of the two phase study that will cost the tax payers about $100, 000 according to the first mention of the report in the News-Herald this past September.

Here's the long and the short of it. About three years ago the Lake County Commissioners mentioned that they MAY interested in purchasing the Airport from the City of Willoughby. This helped the City of Willoughby to decide on an end to a longstanding squabble with the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) T & G Flying Club that has run the airport's operations for the past 20 years. Details can be found in the News-Herald Article, here.

A new FBO was chosen this past Fall. The FBO is CLASSIC JET CENTER.

"CLASSIC," YOU SAY!?!

"Classic ..." sounds familiar.

Classic Automotive group!

That's right!

Classic Automotive Group Mogul Jim Brown has a lot of car dealerships in Lake County.

Jim Brown also is a Board Member on the Lake County Port Authority.

The Lake County Port Authority helps finance deals in Lake County.

Wait a minute!

Jim Brown: owns Classic Automotive Group...now owns Classic Jet Center...is Lake County Port Authority Board Member.

Wait a another minute!

The Lake County Commissioners want to buy the Airport that Lake County Port Authority Board Member nows operates a business at!

No!

Oh, yes!

What do you want to bet us that the Lake County Commissioners will buy the Lost Nation Airport from the City of Willoughby and continue to allows Lake County Port Authority Board Member Jim Brown to keep running his new business Classic Jet Center.

Bet the report does not even matter!

There is more to these stories about Lost Nation Airport reports!