Voters back both county questions

The resident-initiated weight limit was lifted at Minden-Tahoe Airport on Tuesday when Douglas County voters narrowly approved a revised airport ordinance.

Douglas County Question 1 had a tight race with the yes vote winning 10,468 to 10,190.

The weight limit that has been in effect since it was first approved by voters in 1982 was called unenforceable by those seeking approval of the revision.

At least one airport business owner bet virtually everything on defeating the revision.

Tony Sabino said he felt the issue drove some of the turnout in this election.

"I think more people were focusing on the question," Sabino said.

Sabino said his house is in foreclosure and his business, Soar Minden, may lose its county fuel concession under new rules.

"There's a future," he said. "But the secret hasn't been revealed yet."

Revision proponent John Garvin said he was pleased the ordinance passed.

"It was a real cliffhanger," he said. "The airport can have its funding reinstated by FAA, and I think the public will see the intentions of emphasizing sports and small aviation continue to be the case."

Garvin said nothing in the ordinance will increase the jet traffic or harm soaring.

"Contrary to the opposition's arguments, soaring will be emphasized, as will sport aviation and there will be no jet invasion," he said.

Most of the debate over the airport ordinance revision had more to do with its future than its present operation.

Letter writer Terry Burnes expressed the opinion that the real issue is the county's airport master plan that envisions moving soaring to the east side.

That proposal would require Sabino to move Soar Minden from its position near the west entrance of the airport, which he has long said would damage or kill his business.

In addition, a 100-hangar development named Pinon Aero is approved for the southwest corner of the airport. Opponents cite the company's Web site which claims that the project is designed to provide a place for business jets to park.

Residents for a Rural Community Airport raised $16,300 to campaign for the ordinance revision. Its chief contributors were $4,000 from the Airport Business Owner's Association, $2,300 from Amber Bently, and $10,000 from soaring enthusiast and airport lease holder Alpine View resident David Bingham.

Sabino funded his advertising campaign mostly out of his own pocket.

Douglas County Question 2 had no organized opposition, but still met some resistance in the polls.

The advisory question sought voter input on whether the Legislature should work with county government during the budget process.

Prompted by the state's grab of local revenues to balance its budget, the question passed in Douglas County with 62.96 percent of the vote, one of the higher percentages in the state.

The Nevada Association of Counties sought the question and was able to place it on the ballots in 16 of the state's 17 counties.

Only Storey County posted a higher percentage of approval of the question, though it passed in 15 counties. Nye County voters voted against the measure.

The 2011 Legislature is facing a major budget crisis with projected revenues to cover only half of the state's $6 billion budget. Previous Legislatures have dipped into county coffers on more than one occasion to bring the budget into balance.