Illinois Valley News

Illinois Valley resident Edward Russell has a particular passion for aviation.

He“s been around airports since the ripe age of 9, and has leased space at the Illinois Valley Airport for nearly a decade.

Now, decades later, Russell is interested in seeing how the facility takes shape during the next several years. “They grow organically and know what they need to be for that community,“ he said.

Russell, a member of the I.V. Airport Advisory Board, is among those hoping to shape the vision for the airport“s future. But despite the continuing efforts of many groups and individuals, several obstacles and challenges remain in developing the facility to its full potential.

Fuel Still Lacking

The airport advisory board met on-site during the evening of Monday, Dec. 28 to discuss several topics. One issue that came up is the fact that no fuel is available at the airport.

Alex Grossi, Josephine County manager for the airports in Merlin and Illinois Valley, said that it would take the sale of approximately 60,000 gallons of fuel for a would-be investor to break even. He added that throughout the years, at least three entities have attempted to sell fuel at I.V. Airport, with limited success.

In contrast, Grossi said, the Grants Pass Airport in Merlin sells around 100,000 gallons of fuel per year. It also has nearly 150 aircraft based there, which is well beyond the capacity of the I.V. Airport, Grossi said.

FAA will not provide funds for a fuel system, Grossi said, but private entities can. Providing fuel at the airport is a service that would have to be available daily, and because of issues surrounding hazardous materials, volunteers could not perform the function, Grossi said.

Don Moore, an airport advisory board member and Cave Junction mayor, described it as a “chicken-and-egg“ situation.

Russell stated that many pilots fly over the airport and would stop for fuel if they could. Chairman Keith Hill suggested that possible fuel options be placed on the agenda for a future board meeting.

“Its a big deal for this airport,“ Hill said.

The Lingering Issue

Grossi has managed the county“s two airports for more than nine years. He“s seen three different sets of advisory boards formed in that time, with many of the same issues left unresolved.

During a Tuesday, Dec. 29 telephone interview, Grossi said that the lack of fueling capacity at I.V. Airport “has been a concern for a long time.“ He said that FAA does sometimes fund fuel projects, “but there has to be a substantial demand.“

“They build it after its unmistakably needed,“ Grossi stated.

Despite the grumblings from airport users, tenants and advisory board members about the fuel situation, Grossi said he doesn“t think it“s responsible for stifling growth and development at the valley site.

“You have to have a base of aircraft that would utilize the fuel,“ he said. “There“s only so long you can keep fuel, quality-wise.

“If you don“t have a base of users, you“re betting on all your fuel sales, or most, coming from outside sources. But without an attraction of some type “ a business, tourism, or even a restaurant “ you can“t attract aircraft just for fuel.“

Museum Advocates Continue Work

Providing an attraction to the airport is exactly what Roger Brandt has been working on during the past four years.

He is among those who have sought to establish a smokejumper museum at the airport to commemorate its past as the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base.

The efforts of Brandt and other museum advocates have gained some traction as of late. A lease agreement for the use of two airport buildings has been drafted and submitted to county officials.

At this point, the lease would be for five years.

Grossi said that the smokejumper group has made some proposed changes to the original lease document, which will have to be reviewed by the county legal department and board of commissioners.

“It would be a given that as long as its not costing the airport money, it could benefit the airport greatly,“ according to Grossi.

During the Dec. 28 airport advisory board meeting, museum advocate Gary Buck stated that this is the third time that group has submitted a lease to the county.

Other Problems Persist

Longtime Illinois Valley resident Kurt Krauss spent nearly a decade operating his business, Krauss Craft, adjacent to the airport. But for several years, his firm has been headquartered at the North Valley Industrial Park in Merlin.

Krauss said that several factors led him to relocate his business. Among them is the cost of transporting goods to and from the valley, which is somewhat remote being approximately 30 miles from Interstate 5.

“That“s a big hindrance,“ he said. “When you talk about industry, it“s too tough to deal with it out there.“

The Merlin location gives Krauss Craft immediate access to I-5, which Krauss said is important to his operations.

“Being on the interstate is huge,“ Krauss said.

He said that other issues include a limited workforce in Illinois Valley, as well as the overall lack of space at the airport. To put it simply, Krauss Craft outgrew what was available.

“We“ve quadrupled our size since we were out there,“ Krauss said.

All those factors forced Krauss to move his business, though he said that wouldn“t have been his first choice.

“I still have a lot of ties to the valley. I still own a house out there and have a lot of family out there,“ he said. “I love the valley, and I“m supportive of it. But all the things we needed weren“t there.“

Other companies once based at the airport that have since left include Associate Air, and Sky Research, now located at Ashland Airport.

Visions for the Future

Russell admits that he has been somewhat agitated throughout the years at the airport lack of development.

“The airport should grow,“ he said. “It should be busy and happy, and it“s not.“

Last summer, smokejumper museum volunteers repainted and resurfaced the airport parachute loft building. Russell said it took nine years of pleading with county officials to finally make it happen.

“Why did it take that long““ Russell said. “Why are enthusiastic volunteers thwarted and frustrated“ I don“t get it.“

Russell blames what he calls “special interests“ and “bureaucracy“ for the lost potential. Instead of the status quo, Russell said, he would like to see the site develop into an “aviation recreation destination.“

Most pilots fly for fun, Russell said, adding that the fastest-growing segment of aviation is the flying of sport aircraft. FAA has created a category between Cessna and ultralight aircraft to reflect that trend, Russell said, and I.V. Airport is positioned to benefit from it.

“People come from Iowa to learn how to fly here,“ Russell said.

Another trend identified by Russell is that of “air camping.“

“That“s a big thing for pilots,“ he said. “They love to fly someplace where there“s not a strip mall and camp under the wings of their airplanes.“

Krauss said that despite the setbacks, I.V. Airport does have some advantages. The weather is more consistently clear than it is at the Grants Pass Airport, he said, adding that building more hangars at the facility may attract more pilots to base their aircraft there.

The advisory board“s next meeting is set for Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in Cave Junction City Hall. During that gathering, board members will allow members of the public to sound off of on what the vision, goals and mission for the airport should be.

“Public input is always welcome and appreciated,“ Grossi said. “The advisory board is kind of a focus group to organize all those thoughts and basically be a voice of the community to aid the commissioners and myself in the management of the airports and to establish policies based on public input.“

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