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Hangars leases need to be investigated
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| By: Catherine Kennelly 773-481-1298 |
November 18, 2009 |
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(Editor's note: This letter to the editor is in response to letters addressed to Mrs. Kennelly in the Nov. 11 Chetek Alert.)
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First and foremost Mr. Harrison, I apologize to you. My figures were wrong and your reported earnings of $2,689.75 are correct.
Mr. Lockbaum, I do stand by my statement that our airport is used by a small group of people-not the majority. The airport belongs to the city and that means city taxpayers. Our Hydroflites have every right to park there and that goes for our yearly arts and crafts show, too. They bring an enormous amount of people and revenue to our city. Revenue is also generated by the Rib Fest, Liberty Fest and our newest addition, Winter Fest. On that weekend, there were more people on the lake than we have seen these past two summers. We did not have to donate to these events-they paid their own way.
You think, Mr. Knutson, that $7.71 monthly is fair rent for these lessees on hangars that average over $80,000.00 to build? We should up these rents to $100/month, which is still a sweet deal and would gross $44,400.00 yearly. We can hire a part-time maintenance man and we would show profit for a change.
You boast about your charitable contributions and good deeds. There are lots of us in Chetek who do the same but keep our mouths shut about it. Come to think of it, that $2,130.16 given to the airport in 2008 could be considered a charitable contribution, one which was not tax deductible or given of our own volition.
The airport was there long before I was, correct. So were a lot of well-loved and appreciated businesses. Those people are gone while the city continues to cater to the needs of the airport. My husband has been after the city to buy up old buildings in town, tear them down and build something new to generate revenue. If those businesses were run the way we run our airport, it would not be a smart move, would it?
Some cold hard facts:
1) We should have the names and addresses of our lessees on file and confirm that registration corresponds with occupancy.
2) Are business lessees paying the same rent as private parties?
3) How are these leases written? Can I legally rent space to store pontoons, cars, boats, etc.?
4) Is it specified in the lease that each lessee is responsible for maintaining the area around their hangar?
5) What are the consequences if a lessee violates their lease?
6) How many employees do airport businesses have? How many are from Chetek?
Dennis Morley is 1st Ward Alderman and I am asking him to bring in an inspector independent of the airport and the city to have these hangars inspected. We should pay for this written, unbiased report. It will be money well spent. Also, have an attorney look at these leases. Let's get this rent up. The Alert would do all of us a great service if they would publish the last five years of airport financial reports-let people take their own look at the numbers.
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©The Chetek Alert 2010
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Judy Anderson |
Nov, 18 2009 |
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I don't have any strong feelings for or against the airport but I want to let Ms.Kennelly know how proud I am of her for standing up to the 'good ol' boys.'
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