I thought i would make another attempt to post some facts on this matter. 1) In 3 weeks of operation this DZ has had the aircraft down for maint. 2 of them. While the owner has stated that the plane is a good solid aircraft this last bought with the DZ will result in a new engine replacement. 2) Here is a post in todays paper i think everyone needs to realize that this is not a DZ war but rather a political issue with the city/zoning. Remember skydiving in the US is a priveldge not a RIGHT!!
Lead Story...
Zoning appeals board turns down skydiving
By Andrew Mouzin, Staff Reporter
?An almost full room of people in opposition to a proposed skydiving center adjacent to the Lawrence Smith Memorial Airport heard the Cass County Board of Zoning Appeals on July 6 unanimously deny a request from PJE Properties, the KC Skydiving Center, for a special-use permit for a skydiving center on its five-acre property.
The county had initiated a stop order in April with the skydiving owners, Paul and Joanna Eriksmoen, to cease and desist their operations until zoning applications could be approved.
The Eriksmoens have appeared before the planning and zoning board twice, each time their request for the special-use permit was denied.
The first time the denial was issued because of an improper land use request.
However, in spite of the stop order the Eriksmoens continued to operate their skydiving center at the airport.
Cass County Presiding Commissioner Gary Mallory said the county’s intention is to make the skydiving operation stop operating at the airport.
“If we have to go to court to make them stop, that’s what we’ll do,” he said.
Opponents voiced their concerns about the possibility of the Eriksmoens continuing their skydiving operation over the airport.
Jim Selph, an opponent of the request, was worried about what could happen if someone does get hurt.
“I’ve been through these operations (at the airport) before and I don’t want to do this again,” he said.
He said the Eriksmoens would have operated over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, but their engine was fried.
“He (Eriksmoen) doesn’t care about any rules or regulations,” he said. “He’s going to open at any and all costs,” Selph said.
Cass County assistant prosecuting attorney Debbie Moore said she would file a civil action against the Eriksmoens if they continue to operate.
Paul Eriksmoen said he and his wife did not show up at the July 6 meeting because they believed the board was not going to listen to what they had to say.
“At that point, the Cass County board had already made up its mind at the fact they believed they owned the airspace over Cass County which they are mistaken upon,” Eriksmoen said.
Despite the possible legal ramifications, the skydivers have continued to sky dive at the airport.
Eriksmoen maintains the Federal Aviation Administration regulates the airspace over the United States, not the county and under FAA guidelines, they have the full authority to sky dive.
Eriksmoen said he believes the board didn’t care to hear what they had to say.
“It didn’t seem like they wanted to listen to anything that we submitted and we submitted quite a bit of paperwork from the FAA and the United States Parachute Association and even with all of that, they really didn’t want to listen to us,” he said.
Eriksmoen said they would file a formal appeal in Cass County Circuit Court asking a judge to review their request.
