Weight ordinance presses forward

A rumor that the Federal Aviation Administration may seek a new weight study for the Minden-Tahoe Airport won't derail the county's efforts to put a new airport ordinance before voters.

Assistant County Manager Steven Mokrohisky said last week that the process the county has undergone to create a new ordinance will continue.

"This process had been driven by the public and county staff," he said. "We're moving away from a weight-based ordinance. It doesn't change what we're doing."

Two pavement studies at the airport show the capacity of the runway is higher than that set forth in county ordinance. The rumor is that the FAA might require a new study of the pavement at the airport.

Mokrohisky said he would prefer not spending the up to $150,000 on a new weight study.

"We could use that money to buy a snowplow," he said.

A draft of a new ordinance was presented to a score of residents at a meeting in the CVIC Hall in Minden on Dec. 16.

Instead of the weight limit that has been included in Douglas County's airport ordinance since voters first approved it in 1982, the ordinance includes more stringent rules preventing expansion of the airport.

Some residents said they felt the $1,000 fine listed in the ordinance for landing an overweight aircraft might be written off as the cost of doing business.

"At one time I jokingly suggested we fine offenders $1,000 a pound," resident Jack Van Dien said. "Fining them $1 a pound might have an effect. The $1,000 fine is not a significant deterrent to someone who owns a $100,000 aircraft."

Resident and pilot Jim Herd asked whether the ordinance should include more specific guidelines to determine a weight violation.

Both he and Van Dien questioned part of the ordinance that allows strengthening the taxiways and aprons to the weight-bearing capacity of the runways.

"It seems that exempting the taxiway is a defiance of the will of the people," Herd said.

Airport engineer Wayne Ferree, whose audit of two reports on the weight-bearing capacity of the airport calls them into question, pointed out that it's the strength of the taxiways and aprons that determines the capacity of the airport's pavement.

He said an aircraft is heavier when it is sitting still or moving slowly than when it is taking off or landing on the runway. Then the aircraft's lift decreases the weight in contact with the runway.

He said the asphalt runway at Minden-Tahoe was at its strongest when first put down, but that it weakens over time.

Residents may comment on the weight ordinance until Jan. 30 by e-mailing info@mindentahoeairport.com.

Douglas County commissioners are expected to hold their first hearing on the new ordinance March 4, with a second hearing on March 18.

Once finalized, it will be forwarded to the county clerk's office, where ballot language and arguments for and against will be worked out.

The ordinance is being revised to comply with a demand by the federal government that the county alter information in official publications that there is a 30,000-pound single-wheel and 50,000-pound dual-wheel weight limit on aircraft. Since the limits are in county code as a result of a voter initiative, county officials won't remove or revise them without voters' consent.

Meanwhile, the federal government has sent letters threatening to cut off funding if the county doesn't comply, or attempts to enforce the present weight limit. Officials said the county has already missed $635,000 in federal funding due to the weight limit. No one has every been prosecuted under the county's weight ordinance.