M.D. of Willow Creek shuts down all sports at Claresholm airport

By Lawrence Gleason, Local Press Writer

There will be no further sporting events held on runways at the Claresholm airport, which means no drifting, the sport of skidding cars on pavement or even provincial games as there has been in the past.

A Dec. 20 vote of Municipal District of Willow Creek councillors meeting as the Municipal Planning Commission did allow for driver training for licensed vehicles. Police services use unused runways for driver training. Training on ATVs will still be permitted if there is a licensed instructor.

The public gallery in council chambers was full for the airport discussion, most of them interested professional and recreation aviators. The aviators have recently formed a stakeholder group of 27 members, but have held no meetings as yet. The group was formed following an Oct. 18 MPC meeting when this issue was held over for a decision pending discussions with the Town of Claresholm and airport users.

Murray Frame, of Frame Aviation, a business at the Claresholm airport, was chosen as the spokesperson for the users of the airport.

Frame’s address to MPC members seemed conciliatory to the idea of the use of unused runways. Frame suggested the sports users could use unused runways as long as that didn’t result in the closure of the open runway.

“Recreation flyers use the runway on weekends,” Frame said. “Business flyers use the airport during the week. Our business can get customers seven days a week.”

Frame also suggested after any sporting event the garbage be picked up and all sporting events have liability insurance to $5 to $10 million.

Tara VanDellen, the Town of Claresholm’s development officer, told M.D. councillors the town’s little revenue from the airport is from renting out the facility for sporting events, and the use of the airport for sporting events was in compliance with the appropriate land use bylaw.

“The only revenue we get is when it is rented for events,” said VanDellen.

VanDellen said sporting events have taken place at the airport for years, including two events in the past five years on the active runway, a drift club event and a provincial games event.

A number of letters were read to council from airport users. Concerns included debris cleanup on runways after sporting events that could damage aircraft on takeoff and landings.

Ken Lambert, the owner of Hangar 5, said he was selling his property at the airport but the sale hinged on the MPC decision on sporting events at the airport.

“We have an interested buyer for our property who told us categorically if recreation events are approved for the airport he is gone,” Lambert told MPC members.

Division 5 councillor Darry Markle, a former professional helicopter pilot, missed the public hearing on the airport issue due to flu. When he made it to the council meeting, it was after the airport issue discussion was over.

Markle, who sat at his desk wearing a surgical mask so as not to infect fellow councillors or M.D. staff, said he informed council his recommendation was to close the airport to all sporting events, exactly what council voted for.