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Opinion column
by Murrel Bland
In the 1950s, it became obvious that as air travel continued to grow, Municipal Airport in Kansas City, Mo., would soon outgrow its space. One of the proposed solutions was to combine Municipal with the nearby Fairfax Airport across the Missouri River. The opportunity was there to create a bi-city airport authority with runways stretching across the Missouri River. However, it never happened.
The major reason it didn’t happen was a matter of trust. The Kansas City, Kansas, City Commission didn’t trust the Kansas City, Mo., City Council and vice versa.
Looking back on that experience, it is quite understandable why there was a feeling of mistrust. Kansas City, Kansas, commissioners were indicted on charges of corruption, although none was convicted. And the ghost of Tom Pendergast, the longtime political boss, still haunted Kansas City, Mo., City Hall.
So Kansas City, Mo., officials searched for a new airport site, looking in Clay County. However, land costs were too expensive. They settled at the present site in undeveloped Platte County just south of Platte City.
Fast-forward to 2017. Joe Reardon, a former mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, was the featured speaker Friday, Oct. 20, at a meeting of the Congressional Forum at Children’s Mercy Park. Reardon is now the president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. He spoke about the need for a new airport terminal.
Voters in Kansas City, Mo., will go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7, to decide the fate of the new airport terminal. Kansas City, Kansas, residents do not vote on it. Reardon said it will be important for everyone who has friends in Kansas City, Mo., to encourage a “yes” vote on the new terminal issue. It will not raise taxes; the airport is funded by those who use it. His presentation last Friday was his 95th.
Reardon said the airport opened in 1972. During its first year of operation, the airport served about 3.8 million passengers. In 2016, that number had grown to nearly 12 million.
A change in security is a major factor that is demanding a new terminal, according to Reardon. Airlines, particularly Southwest, are insisting on more efficient security systems that can handle boarding passengers quicker.
Reardon also stressed the need for a modern terminal to attract new business for the entire region. He cited the 1914 effort of business and civic leaders who were bidding for a regional office of the Federal Reserve Bank. The selection committee came to Kansas City and was most impressed with the new Union Station that was a bustling enterprise. He compared that to the search committee for the most recent national Republican Convention; the committee members were brought in by private aircraft so they would not have to hassle with KCI.
So today, unlike the 1950s, there is a regional effort, headed up by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Reardon, to help secure a new airport terminal. Reardon said he is cautiously optimistic that the issue will pass; a poll indicates a 51 percent favorable vote.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.