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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Intense focus on projects at Carroll County Regional Airport, from tree clearing to the runway expansion, has prompted the airport’s new manager to plan a slew of community meetings.
“There’s a lot of interest and a lot of action on a lot of the projects that are going on,” said Joe McKelvey, who took over airport operations Feb. 7.
McKelvey, who has about 30 years of experience in aviation, has already held one meeting with six residents and said he plans to have several more in the coming months.
One of the biggest recent controversies in Carroll centered on the county’s plan to expand the airport’s runway from 5,100 to 6,400 feet.
County officials say the expansion will improve the county’s industrial and commercial tax base by luring more corporate jets. Westminster residents say the project will bring louder planes, disrupting their neighborhoods.
Commissioners passed the expansion 2-1 in June, over some residents’ objections.
But their worries should be better satisfied with an experienced airport manager who can respond to problems, said Cindy Parr, the county’s chief of administrative services, who has often fielded questions about the expansion.
“Joe is very versed in airport operations, has a lot of experience and is used to dealing with residents,” Parr said. “Certainly, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and the ability to be able to answer questions immediately.”
McKelvey replaced Dean Leister, who moved back to his position in the county’s bureau of building construction after serving 2 1/2 years as head of the airport. Officials said they wanted a manager with more aviation experience.
“It’s an excellent idea,” said John Stephens, a Westminster resident and expansion critic. “We haven’t had anyone to talk to.”
msilvestri@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:08 AM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "Residents hope bog turtles block expansion at airport"
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2:20 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 9, 2008
re: "Residents hire lawyers to save trees"
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7:45 AM MST on Fri., Nov. 9, 2007
re: "Airport manager removed amid expansion controversy"
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12:01 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 31, 2007
re: "Carroll looks to feds to ease airport woes"
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8:45 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 24, 2007
re: "State says black splotches on roofs are not jet fuel"
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Examiner Reader said:
The State of Maryland Heritage Group will do a Bog Turtle study as well. That group found the turtle in a wet land near the bi-pass. FEAR the TURTLE
5 agree | 3 disagree
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Barney said:
Hug a tree now, plant one later.
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Linda said:
This is a no brainer, of course the county would hire Delta, the same people that recommended the expansion, no objective decisions will be made there.
119 agree | 112 disagree
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Or... said:
Or maybe Tregoning can send his deputies out door-to-door to explain it all.
149 agree | 150 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Maybe the State Police can spend some of their extra $500,000 dollars to help solve this..
150 agree | 157 disagree
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