RDA mulls Gary airport's future

BY KEITH BENMAN, Times of Northwest Indiana
kbenman@nwitimes.com

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority is preparing to take a closer look at plans for Gary/Chicago International Airport, including examining whether private investment could help speed development.

Four RDA members on Friday approved a search for consultants to study the issue of private investment in the airport as part of a search for more funding.

"I want to support unequivocally the expansion of the Gary/Chicago International Airport, and I want to vote yes," RDA Chairman Leigh Morris said.

The issue of privatization has been ignited by Gov. Mitch Daniels, who recently told a conservative Washington think tank the idea holds promise for the airport.

The vote came one week after Skybus Airlines went belly up after only 23 days of flying into Gary. It also follows comments by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley that the future of the Gary airport lies in attracting cargo business.

The working group also approved looking for consultants to examine airport plans for expanding its second runway and building a Customs and Border Protection facility and the airport's marketing.

The full RDA board still must approve the working group's recommendation.

Airport Director Chris Curry said many of the proposals that nonexperts outside the airport are making, such as building a large-scale cargo operation there, currently would not be feasible.

But he said the airport is open to experts examining the potential for such operations.

Bill Joiner, appointed to the RDA by the city of Gary, expressed reservations about spending more money on consultants early in the meeting. He moved to limit what appeared to be a call for a complete rewrite of the airport's master plan.

Such an effort easily could cost the RDA more than $1 million. Joiner in the end made the motion for the more limited examination that the working group approved.

"I don't think we need to spend any additional money for consultants at this time," Joiner said.