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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 25 1989 Sebastian Airport Plan14A, Wednesday, January 25, 1989, Vero Beach, Fla., Press -Journal J.J. Schumann Chairman J.J. Schumann, Jr. Editor & Publisher Daniel G. Mack General Manager Chuck Roames Managing Editor Cheryl McCloud Ass't. Managing Editor Michael Bogin Systems Editor Jennifer Daniel Local News Editor Larry Reisman Night News Editor Art Maier Business Editor Chuck Balnius Sports Editor Tom Dickens Circulation Director Darryl Hicks Display Advertising Manager Barbara Sprague Classified Advertising Mgr. SUBSCRIPTION RATES For Convenient Home Delivery 569-7100 Home Delivery, Year $60.00 Home Delivery, 6 Months $31.90 Mail-7 Papers, Year $96.00 Mail —Wed. & Sun., Year $39.60 Canada-7 Papers, Year )U.S. Dollars) $350.00 Canada —Wed. & Sun., Year (U.S. Dollars) $110.00 Editorials Press J ournal Audited Paid ACTIVE MEMBER U.S. Highway 1 at 18th Street R POST OFFICE BOX 1268 VERO BEACH, FLORIDA 32961 PHONE 562-2315 FOUNDED 1919 ro Circulation Sebastian Airport Plan Political pressure is hard to battle. But that's exact- ly what Sebastian City Council is facing over its air- port. Despite investing a considerable amount of time and energy adopting a master plan for its municipal airport in late 1988, City Council is still being bom- barded by other proposals for the facility. The master plan, which has been forwarded to the Federal Aviation Administration for review, does not call for expansion of the facility, but seeks various improvements, such as repaving of runways. Some airport opposition groups, however, have warned that the airport is destined to grow and become an unfavorable element in the city. But the latest flurry of action in regard to the air port is all wrapped up into one powerful political pigskin.. Citizens Airport Watch, a group formed against air- port development, has spearheaded a drive to drasti- cally change the shape of the airport as we now know it. Capitalizing on a major no county need — that of a new high school — the group has successfully con- vinced the Indian River County School Board to ask City Council for its cooperation in seeing whether the airport is a viable sight for not only a high school, but complete education complex. Without looking at the entire picture, the education complex idea seems like a bright one. How feasible it might be, however, is a major question — one not likely to be solved overnight. That's why it's important that City Council not bend to any apparent pressure being placed on it by the factions in favor of the education complex. North county residents want a new high school and have been promised one for years. But those desires shouldn't be met with quick -fix options. The School Board has been tripping over itself looking for a suitable site for years now and now appears. to be latching onto an idea that may be pick- ing up steam. But instead of putting its apples in this one basket, it should continue looking for other site options and keep the pressure off City Council. Additional site reviews should continue in the hope of getting a suita- ble_ one in the near future. The north county needs a new high school. Sebastian has a significant amount of business at its airport. That is likely to continue, especially as the area grows. This is a major issue that will have long-term effects. It should be handled with care and not in the political arena.