A letter presented to the District of 100 Mile House Council prompted a discussion on the issues surrounding the 100 Mile Airport.
During the Sept. 10 council meeting, council received a letter from Sandy Davidson, who wrote that "several hangar owners are hoping that the lease fees could at least be cut in half until such time as the $40,000 airport study is complete and we perhaps have a solution to provide better standards comparable to the 108 Airport that pays approximately on the same scale being suggested."
Fees were recently increased for hangar owners in the airport after they previously paid an annual fee of $378. Those fees have now been increased to $1,000 - with an additional $4 per square meter based on the size of the hanger. This increase is intended to assist in covering ongoing operating and capital costs associated with running the airport.
Throughout the Council meeting, District of 100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney noted that there is a "big cost to running an airport and the facility" and that they do have an airport report that is coming that will see what else they can do over there.
"We know it needs fencing - we know it needs signage and gates and things - we really, truly value our airport."
Pinkney stated that they have increased the fees due to the fact that they have not been increased in three decades, but states that she does understand where the airport hangar owners are coming from.
"If we don't charge some money and get some revenue in, it's also hard for us to make those improvements," Pinkney said.
In her letter, Davidson also said that both vandalism and theft have become "an ever increasing problem at the 100 Mile Airport." Davidson compared 100 Mile's Airport with the South Cariboo Regional Airport operated by the Cariboo Regional District in 108 Mile Ranch, claiming that airport does not have the same issues with theft and vandalism.
Davidson listed several incidents where trucks were broken into in recent weeks and also noted she believes many can now access the airport via the new neighbouring subdivision. She said the lack of proper fencing and signs is allowing for the trespassing, noting the signage is either not present or removed.
Coun. Dave Mingo remarked that they need to recover costs and acknowledged that there is a need to make some improvements to the airport.
"We're going to see the airport survey come out that we've got there right now, and we are committed to improving it," Mingo stated.
Responding to the reports of vandalism at the 100 Mile Airport, Coun. Donna Barnett said that they cannot do anything about it, and that they can only try to make it safer, such as by posting more signs. Coun. Jenni Guimond added she finds that the overall situation concerning.
"There does obviously need to be some increased security, but we have a study going on to look at what to do over there," Guimond said. As part of the study, there is a survey which is open to the public. The survey closes on Sept. 27 and can be accessed by going to the District's main website.
Council responded to the letter by voting unanimously to try and get additional signage for the airport and to give hanger owners the option to make their fee payments over several payments, rather than one lump sum.
