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Questions about Clintonville airport

I have lived across from the Clintonville airport property for more than 50 years. I have seen changes over the years. The biggest change was when they installed the fence to keep the deer out. It was stated at the time that it would also help to keep the turkeys out too. Who ever made that statement obviously didn’t know that turkeys fly over fences. Also since then I’ve noticed selected hunters over there trying to shoot the deer that breech the security of that fence.

Today I look over there with sadness. You have made a desert out of little known treasure. What used to be a green and pristine area, has been turned into barren wasteland. You can look for hundreds of yards and see nothing but wood chips and brown vegetation. As I returned from my daily morning walk today I could hear a Pileated woodpecker crying, “What have you done to my habitat.”  

That area was home to hundreds of small birds and animals for decades. That habitat is now destroyed. We feed birds in our backyard and many times we see cardinals and other songbirds fly across the road from the airport property to come to our feeders. It was also home to rabbits, squirrels and other small mammals. Animal rights people are worried about a pig that some boys are trying to wrestle to the ground for the benefit of a church, when this rape of the landscape has a much larger impact on animal life.

To make matters worse, the crew that is doing the work decided to work all night last week. The noise of the equipment kept many of the neighbors from getting a normal nights sleep. That made for some ugly neighbors.

The new extended runway will be a great asset for the city of Clintonville. Kudos to whoever was responsible for getting the grant to complete this project. I do understand that there has to be some space around it. I feel that the land clearing measures are overkill on this project. Would there have been room for negotiations with the FAA on this issue?

Finally, what is the future for that area. If nothing is done, there will be natural regrowth of the  
vegetation and it will be so thick with new growth that you won’t be able to walk through it. The deer will find it a haven for food and shelter. Has anyone thought about this?

Gerald Schroeder
Clintonville

 
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