County dissolves airport board
Meetings filled with controversy

BY RICK NEALE
FLORIDA TODAY

August 29, 2008

Director honored Last month, Valkaria Airport Director Steve Borowski was named Aviation Professional of the Year by the Florida Department of Transportation. Brevard County commissioners formally presented him the award during Thursday's VAAB debate.

After decades of divisive squabbling, the vociferous Valkaria Airport Advisory Board has been permanently grounded.

Thursday, the Brevard County Commission voted 3-2 to abolish the VAAB. A parade of speakers denounced the seven-member board as a breeding ground of anti-airport rancor and an obstacle to maintenance, management and the facility's 20-year master plan.

Commissioner Jackie Colon agreed, saying county employees were subjected to slanderous personal attacks for years during VAAB meetings.

"For this board to allow this to continue would be an injustice," Colon said. "It stops here. It stops right now. And we need to put an end to it today."

Commissioners Mary Bolin and Helen Voltz agreed. They said Grant-Valkaria and Malabar officials should handle relations between the airport and its surrounding community.

Chuck Nelson preferred to keep the board alive, saying Brevard's advisory boards -- though sometimes contentious -- serve a valuable watchdog function. Truman Scarborough also voted against abolishment; he preferred to suspend the board until the new commission is seated in November.

Joe Griffin, Sebastian Municipal Airport director, called the board "the repository for the antagonists of the airport." VAAB member Frank Gallagher -- who wants to dissolve the group -- said the organization has "a 20-year history of failure."

Likewise, Russell Minton, a 10-year VAAB member, said the group opposed runway repaving -- even when chunks of loose pavement were flying into propellers -- because the project was perceived as pro-growth.

"It is especially counterproductive for a board to have members who object to the mission of the airport -- to fly aircraft," quipped Jill Liles, secretary of the Melbourne Area Pilots Association.

However, Grant-Valkaria Mayor Del Yonts said the VAAB serves as a valuable conduit between residents and the airport, though some recent meetings were conducted in a dysfunctional manner. He said town council members do not know what is happening at the airport, sometimes receiving third-hand information.

Another VAAB supporter was Malabar resident Bernadette Knudson, who said the board is one of the few venues where residents' voices can be heard on airport issues. She said planes fly over her house and pastures -- including a helicopter that spooked her steer.

Knudson said she hopes the airport remains a small recreational facility, and she opposes helicopters and flight schools.

Trudie Infantini, who won Tuesday's Republican primary in the commission District 3 race, said she felt "embarrassed and powerless" while attending the July VAAB meeting. She said the panel accomplished nothing in three hours -- except heap abuse upon Airport Director Steve Borowski.

Known for rancorous debate, the VAAB was booted from the Palm Bay Public Library last fall after a particularly noisy meeting.

Palm Bay City Councilman Milo Zonka chaired that library meeting, which he called "one of the worst nights of my life." He pledged to resign from the VAAB from the podium Thursday, and he said pilots, residents and those who want to shutter Valkaria Airport have bickered for decades -- and will continue to do so.

Contact Neale at 242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com