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OBITUARIES - DEATH NOTICES - CARDS OF THANKS
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| Last updated at 1:50 AM on 03/11/09 |
Support for airport fundraising campaign dominates council 
STEPHENVILLE
The Western Star
Coun Cec. Stein may have been unable to attend the most recent Stephenville Town Council meeting, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t part of the discussion.
Mayor Tom O’Brien said from his knowledge, everyone on the town council besides Stein is on the same page with regard to their support for the airport.
He made the comment at the last general meeting of the Stephenville town council, which Stein couldn’t attend at due to work commitments.
The majority of council supports the Stephenville Airport Citizens Committee’s fundraising campaign, and whether or not it reaches its $700,000 goal, members are still working in a positive way with the town, Stephenville Airport Corporation and the provincial government to move the airport forward, according to O’Brien.
Last week Stein was critical of council for not rescheduling meeting times for a couple of weeks so he could attend.
“He’s (Stein) on that side and the rest of us are on the other side,” O’Brien.
Stein has long held he couldn’t support cash injection to the airport without having some documentation from the airport corporation showing its financial position.
Coun. Don Gibbon said he congratulates the airport citizens committee for taking on the campaign and he for one feels they are doing a good job.
Coun. Laura Aylward, who is a member of the committee, said there are all kinds of things that could happen now that they have the website set up, she said referring to the launch of SaveStephenvilleAirport.ca.
Aylward also noted the chairman of the committee, Bill Hynes, has been called to speak at a Rotary meeting in Corner Brook on Nov. 19, which she feels good about.
“Because of the publicity people are coming out and saying they will support the Stephenville airport,” she said.
Coun. Mike Tobin said right now everyone is working in the same direction with regards to the airport and that people at a recent South West Coast Joint Council meeting expressed their support.
Coun. Darlene Oake said the website the airport citizens committee has set up looks good and is easy to maneuver around and encourages people to have a look.
Weblink: savestephenvilleairport.ca
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03/11/09
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Reality Check from Stephenville, NL writes: This sounds like kicking a dead horse.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 5:57 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Christopher Colbourne from France writes: Wow, I thought i just read last week where a company from the US is probably taking over the airport?.... I know I didn't dream that...... So the town of Stephenville is attempting to raise 700K for its airport so to then make 700K of improvements and to then turn around and let an American company come in and run it as a business entity?........Wow la vie est belle ....Where can I sign up to get on that list that we can have access to business' with 700K worth of improvements and take them over as our own?........ Ooops my bad..... NOT FOR NEWFOUNDLANDERS.....sorry didn't see the fine print!!
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 6:22 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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rob from nl writes: Now I know where the expressions empty drums make the most noise and a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.
There is a group called KAZ who are exploring options to take over and run the airport. No deal has been signed. The town is still waiting for the business plan to make the approach to the province for funding and the feds will then agree to help out once the province makes the commitment. A new board would be appointed by the town and with a new board and management team, they can get the airport back on track and start rebuilding the business. Case closed.
My source, The Western Star. Read the facts people, not your own bias.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 6:59 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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B B from Inside the Overpass, nl writes: Let's take a deep breath and see what KAZ will commit to paper. What Stephenville has and must ensure that KAZ will commit to maintaining and expand passenger traffic to the airport. The commercial proposals sound good. If the own seels the airport they should also be able to buy it back. Perhaps this could be a good start to 'Open Skies'. Having flown through Stephenville this is a great facility that can't be allowed to die.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 8:43 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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sean hickey from stephenville, nl writes: i find it very disturbing to read the articles in your paper in the last few weeks regarding COUNCILLOR stein it seems that evrything this mayor and councvil is doing for the bettre of teh town COUNCILLOR stein has a problem with,one article states that COUNCILLOR stein wants the meetings changed to fit his schedule when in fact there are 6 other people in question who have voted on this and he obviously didn't win but he has to take this public every time ,is this what COUNCILLOR stein means bye being a team player.
the next issue i really had to laugh when i read he is worried about spending the taxpayers money well was COUNCILLOR stein worried about the taxpayers money when in 1998 he took the marcot excercise for his personnal gain or was he worried about the taxpayers dollasr when he again used his postion in 2001 took 7 milliom dolloars of taxpayers money for personnal gain again,he was not worried about the taxpayers money then.if we had that 7 million dollars and had the airport joined together with the port there would be no issue today everything would have been fine ,i had these questions to ask COUNCILLOR stein at the meet the candidates night but COUNCILLOR stein didnt show up i guess he was to busy to be thre for the people of stephenville.
i think the best solution for thsi is for COUNCILLOR stein to resign he has done quite well personally from the town of stephenville ,and just let the elected people who are doing a good job for thsi town try and do their job the best they can without all the fighting and media from him ,he COUNCILLOR stein has to realize the one man show no lonmger exists move on.
from a concerned taxpayer who didn't vote for COUNcillor stein
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 9:53 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Christopher Colbourne from France writes: Rob,
Don't come at me Rob, I am and have only ever been, interested in protecting the assets of Newfoundland. Don't see much of that lately in my humble opinion.
I have followed this or these stories and reports about Stephenville International for a few years now. I have been in contact with different elected officials, both locally and in Ottawa. I am not covering up my name in these posts. I have been a PRO-Newfoundland backer.
I have serious problems with NL assets being auctioned off to low bidders and or one bidder........do you not see a problem with this senario?.....
Also as a NL asset, it would have to be bid out correct?..... Was there a bidding process or at least an announcement?..... That is an honest question, I really do not know the answer to that.
I do know that the company in question from America was in negotiations and there was in place an agreement that the board could not speak to anyone else or negotiate w/anyone else while it was in effect.... I believe that the timeframe on it was around 6 months?... And that is ok for business BUT only if they had put a financial backing up.... Which as far as I could learn was never the case, ever... so let us put all of this on display shall we?.... A company comes to Stephenville, is interested in Stephenville Intl. convinces the governing authorities to enter into exclusive negotiations with them yet puts up absolutely no money to show good faith and this process drags out now for almost two years... all the while Stephenville Intl is decaying and losing traffic and this company is sitting back and probably thinking (I say this because if it was me I would be doing this) probably thinking it will get so bad at YJT that they will probably beg us to come in and save them! if not pay us toi come in! ........ Not a very nice senario now is it?.... and YES, ONCE AGAIN A NEWFOUNLAND ASSET IS GIVEN AWAY FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR OR WORSE YET PAYING SOMEONE TO COME IN AND SAVE IT!
Oh and ROB?...... I have a bit more knowledge than you originally thought I think.
This is just enough, really people, stand up and voice your opinion(s).
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 10:30 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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voter from NL writes: How can this council keep supporting an airport ,with no financial documentation and no business plan ,after all these years with numerous chairmen and committees running the airport. It's totally irresponsibe on the council's part to be doing this when the town itself must be hurting with the loss of the grants from the Abitibi mill. Deer Lake is now expanding their runway and now Stephenville is putting the big push on to save their airport, isn't it a bit too late , you,ve had about 15 years to do something.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 12:54 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Native NL'er from Winnipeg, MB writes: Christopher Colbourne from France
Your comments have some valid points for sure. One thing most of us don't understand is; if KAZ was to take over the airport in Stephenville, does it own the airport? Is there a contract stating for X number of years? Or is it ownership until the day KAZ no longer wants it? Will KAZ be allowed to do what it likes with it when KAZ is finished with it? Will it be OK to do what Abitibi did and blow the thing apart and remove it piece by piece? Or is it handed back to the town of Stephenville?
There are so many questions and very little answers. I am in support of any company from Canada or the U.S. running the airport. But there has to be some guard to protect the assets and ownership of the facility.
I read just yesterday in the Western Star that KAZ is awaiting a copy of the YJT business plan. Has KAZ supplied a copy of their business plan to the town of Stephenville, SAC and board? If so, is it a business plan that is detailed with actual costs projected developments and phases?
Phases of developments in amounts of 1.5 million and 2 million being mentioned, yet has an engineer visited the YJT on KAZ’s behalf and quoted anything to KAZ pertaining to any such developments?
This has been dragged out from both sides not just by KAZ. And I understand that KAZ wants to own the airport. Will this mean a handover or an actual dollar amount purchase? Who gets any such money?
We are told the airport is worth millions, as I have no problem believing, so if this is the case, has KAZ proposed a dollar amount it is willing to pay for the facility?
These and many other questions on the minds of locals and Newfoundlanders like me are wondering, but who do you ask? And who has the answers.
I am in full support of the YJT and the campaign. I do understand from the organizer that if and when KAZ were to take over the airport. Monies raised can go to other projects pertaining to the airport.
Initially KAZ wanted to run the FBO, but the board now wants KAZ to run the entire airport. Why?
I hear about new management for the airport. Does this mean let present management go, and proceed with new hiring? How about those who have given and taken pay cuts for the past 15 and 20 years, working to keep the YJT alive on crumbs? Does this mean just LET THEM GO? Is this fair?
The town of Stephenville is now controlling the airport. Many hands are in the pot and no one is saying much about it.
I understand the deal is not signed and still is pending on many issues. Remember this is not something that can happen overnight, and let’s face it; the town is heading a Business plan that has been talked about since May and not yet started. So this could be talked about for many years to come.
I am sure all of us want this to be an honest and good deal for all parties involved. But only a selected few really know what it all means.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 1:33 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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WTF from NL writes: An American company wants to run the American built airport, so what.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 1:47 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Christopher Colbourne from France writes: Important to say, I am not against an American company per sey operating YJT. Could be from anywhere, I could care less. My only concern is the asset itself.
It is a Newfoundland asset and a Stephenville asset as well. How this asset is taken over and how exactly Newfoundland, as a province and more percisely Stephenville will be benefactors of such a transaction are first and foremost of concern in my opinion. If you ask me they should be the only concern for the residents of Newfoundland and Stephenville.
Native NL'er is correct to pose these questions, here here for your concerns. If the governing authority can give response to those valid questions then I am sure that it would clear much of the confusion and sckeptisism surrounding the actual transaction or arrangement between any potential suitor for the asset.
Again I am not against this company, just against any exclusive negotiations w/out any recourse for the asset if the bidder walks away from the table. This is Business 101 in any country on the planet. Newfoundland nor Stephenville should be no different.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 3:04 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Everyone's Entitled to an opinion from Stephenville, NL writes: Hilarius and more hilarius.
Time to move off the port issue.
The town was offered the port but flatly said NO they didn't want to run it.
The majority of council had no insight, forsight or whatever to see the benefit of this port as an asset to the town.
Guess what!!!!!!!!!
One person on council did see the benefit and because the town wouldn't agree and take it the door was open.
A port that could be operated as a private entity...not to take the port was the town council's mistake.
After the fact someone did move on it and it's sore grapes that sean Hickey or any other business person didn't get the opportunity.
Would the federal government go this route again...maybe not but they DID.
Done deal...make him work for his salary and move on. As for the mention of 7 million dollars... do you actually think Stein or any other partner put this money in their own personal pocket????
Audits, accountability, financial statements etc.
How stupid can you be...$7 million and still hanging around, working and getting back on council. Wonder when he's going to spend all this supposed money.
NOW, Mayor O'Brien stop spending your energy fighting Stein as he's only one opinion. He doesn't agree with the airport getting anymore tax payers money WITHOUT financial statements, budget and a plan. It's been years and years and makes LOADS of sense. Believe me he speaks for lots of residents.
Mayor O'Brien lead the whole council. Going after Stein shows insecurities that he will upstage you.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 6:37 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Resident from Stephenville, NL writes: never realized how Stein's opinion is everything.
The man mentions that the schedule of meetings for two months are difficult to make and it's a HUGE deal.
next, he states his opinion on the airport receiving more money and again HUGE deal.
you know something it's YOU that makes it a HUGE deal.
You give him all the power.
He's one vote but he is entitled to his opinion and at least there are no back doors as he will state it to your face whether you agree or disagree.
Stein did get my vote Sean as he is one of the few councillors I would consider to be forward thinking and have an ability to set a vision for this town.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 6:52 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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sean hickey from stephenville, nl writes: to respond to everyone 's entitled to an opinion you are 100 percent correct and thats why ii posted mine and am not scared to put my name beside it unlike others but i would get your facts straight the town was never offered the port at any time shape or matter and would like to bring this to the town table for discussion ,getyour facts straight before you make comments that you do not know what you ware talking about.
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 8:54 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Observer from MB writes: Like most other people, I do not know the implications of any agreement between KAZ Aviation and the Stephenville Airport. What I do know, is a group of well intended individuals are not prepared to sit around to complain about the current status of the airport and criticize its operation. This group is organizing a huge undertaking to try and finance the elimination of a major handicap toward the airport’s success. I travel to NL between two and five times annually and I want to fly into the Stephenville Airport. Rather than sit back, I have devised a method in which I can assist the committee with their fundraising. I will be traveling to NL in a week to present my idea to the committee
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| Posted 03/11/2009 at 10:44 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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