By Mike Campbell, Susan Campbell, Sherri Contos, Fred Lee, Rob Fedorchak, Lynn Fedorchak, Walt Gunthard, Allan McCall, Oma McCall, and Pat Osbourne



They say for every person who attends a meeting or writes a letter, there are 100 others who don’t have the time, but share the same view. If that’s true, there are a lot of angry people in Madison County, because many are attending meetings and writing letters of opposition about the proposed SW Madison airport. Here’s why:

1) Our “Pal” Fishers: When did Fishers start determining our future? If this airport is such an “enhancement,” why is Fishers so desperate to get rid of it? Scott Faultless (Fishers Town Council president) Chris Roberge (Fishers attorney) and Jim Steele (Fishers tax consultant) are quoted more in the THB these days than Madison County leaders, yet they work for Fishers, and are paid/elected to have Fishers’ best interest in mind, not ours.  

2) Real costs: Many people saw Mr. Steele’s projection of “minimal effect on property taxes” to SW Madison of this proposed airport. His analysis is based solely on today’s land use, and is short-sighted and opportunistic. Those acres he would like to cover with a runway could well be developed into high end houses one day, just as neighboring acres in SW Madison already are. What’s the cost then, of forever losing future tax revenue from developments of large ticket homes? Or the restaurants, convenience stores and Starbuck’s that might go with them?

3) Talk is not cheap: Every hour spent “communicating” with Fishers, is a nail in the coffin of long-term investment for the current Anderson Airport. One million-dollar-plus investor (and FBO applicant) has already been put off — how many more? Anderson has invested millions in the current Anderson Airport. We encourage the Anderson City Council to get involved, and ensure it is being overseen properly. Additionally, it goes without saying that housing sales in SW Madison will take a hit until the airport issue is dead. No, talk is not cheap.  

4) Divide and conquer: Nobody in SW Madison wants to hurt their neighbors. That’s why it is most troubling to learn that Fishers attorney Chris Roberge is meeting with affected landowners, and using Steele’s numbers to assure them there will be no adverse tax implications or negative effects from this airport on the people, schools and municipalities left to exist around it. We believe he is conveniently ignoring the REAL costs mentioned above, and is either deceptive or naïve in claiming it will be a “win/win” for those of us who are left.  

5) Confusion: Does anyone really know what this airport would look like? Roberge’s current description is a down-sized, one-runway, 1,300-acre version of the original,   How then, can the economic advantages pledged by Scott Faultless be consistent? Or could it be that proponents have narrowed the scope to the least number of land options necessary to secure their spot, and will go after the rest (annexation included) when land has been devalued by a half-complete airport?

6) Lack of representative government: Three lone members of the BOAC voted to push the airport project forward to the next level; three members who are not elected, have no mandated aviation credentials, and who are appointed by Kevin Smith. The people in SW Madison have no opportunity to vote for or against the Mayor, yet he could well be maneuvering the system through the appointments he has made. (Did we mention Mr. Steele’s recent appointment as interim Anderson controller?) There’s probably a court case in here somewhere.

We are disappointed by the manner in which this airport plan has been presented and marketed, and by those who are trying to force it onto SW Madison. We urge the rest of the county to support us in our fight — as it will surely continue — and we urge land owners in the airport area to “hang tough”. Your land is valuable now, and it will be even more so down the road when it can be used for positive, beneficial development, should you so choose.

Mike and Susan Campbell; Sherri Contos; Lee Farms Inc., Fred Lee, president; Rob & Lynn Fedorchak; Walt Gunthard; Allan and Oma McCall; and Pat Osbourne are residents of southwest Madison County.