An airport development in southwest Madison County is capable of replacing both Anderson Municipal Airport and Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport in Fishers, according to a study set for release Friday.
The Flagship Enterprise Center has received 10 copies of a feasibility study for a replacement airport conducted by Aerofinity Inc. Chuck Staley, president and CEO of the Flagship, said once they are disseminated on Friday, the Flagship's involvement in the project will end.
"Our role was that of facilitator of the study," Staley said. "We have no opinion on the location, merit or advisability of the actual airport. We are neither for, nor against this project."
Two copies of the study will be available to the public at the Flagship. Others have been sent to Anderson, Fishers, Lapel, Pendleton, Anderson Public Library, the Indianapolis Airport Authority, the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners and The Herald Bulletin. By law, any document created, received or maintained by a governmental agency is available to the public.
On May 11, the Flagship announced it had been hired by Fishers to conduct a feasibility study for a replacement airport for Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport. On July 14, subcontractor Aerofinity announced it had established a roughly 4,000-acre study area straddling Green and Stony Creek townships.
Under "Replacement Airport Feasibility Study Findings," the study reads: "The study site is capable of supporting the development of the airport facilities that would meet or exceed those available today at Metro and Anderson Municipal Airports."
Staley said either the Indianapolis Airport Authority or the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners may request that the study be finalized by submitting it to the Federal Aviation Administration. But both Tony Rogers, president of the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners, and a source close to Aerofinity say the oversight bodies at each airport will likely move forward ahead of FAA involvement.
"There has to be a favorable vote from our body and from the Indianapolis Airport Authority," Rogers said. "That's why we're reading through it, developing our own questions and looking at areas that may concern us."
Calls placed to Lacy Johnson, president of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, and Fishers Town Council President Scott Faultless were not returned Thursday.
At the end of the study is 85 pages of public comment garnered during Aerofinity's informational open house on July 23 and a complete list of the 319 people who attended. A subjective evaluation of the public comments by The Herald Bulletin show 149 letters and e-mails in opposed to the project, 19 undecided or unclear and three in favor.
On page 34, Cindy McNutt of Scott Family Farms wrote in favor of the project.
"The proposed airport looks to me like an excellent location," said McNutt, who claims to own 370 acres in the study area. "Little impact on Lapel or Pendleton as far as residential, with the possibility of industrial growth for both towns."
Roger Shoot of Creative Real Estate & P.R. Properties also voiced his support.
"Please do not be swayed by those people who have their heads in their own sand or loam or soil, etc.," he wrote. "Our county needs this airport and the economic development that it will bring."
The towns of Lapel and Pendleton have both stated on record that they oppose the airport project. Nancy Likens, president of the Frankton-Lapel School Corp. board of directors, said the airport would appear on the board's agenda on Thursday.
"I don't know if we will be taking a stance; we will be putting it on the agenda," Likens said. "I don't know if we have enough information to make a decision. As a board member, we want to do what is best for the community."
Likens said she would abstain from the conversation about the airport and any related vote, citing a "conflict of interest." She and her husband have part ownership of farmland being discussed for sale.