MAC CONTINUES TO DENY HOMEOWNERS PROMISED SOUND INSULATION INSTEAD OFFERS MILLIONS TO THE AIRLINES
MINNEAPOLIS: After reading Tuesday that the Metropolitan Airports Commission is considering
offering millions in subsidies to NWA and other carriers, local homeowner, John Mitchell, says he was
"disgusted. While the MAC has abandoned its commitment of a sound insulation program to
homeowners - they are now looking at doling out almost $280 million to the airlines. It is so typical of
the MAC. Plead poverty to homeowners, reneging on their promise to us, and then give the money to
the airlines."
In 1996, the Minnesota legislature decided to expand the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
(MSP) rather than move it to a rural, Dakota County location. As part of that decision, MAC was to
come up with a sound insulation program for neighboring homes who would be hit with increased
noise from the expanded airport. As Wes Skoglund, an airport neighbor (and then Minnesota Senator),
explained it at a 1996 public hearing on the issue, “…we didn’t move along side the airport. The
airport moved along side us.” In 1996, following negotiations with City Officials and the airlines, MAC
committed to provide a sound insulation program to homeowners in the 60-64 DNL contours that
would cost more than $167 million. That didn't seem too excessive since the MAC saved $2.2 billion by
expanding in the city location.
But in 2004, when the airport expansion was completed, the MAC unilaterally announced it would not
keep its commitment. Instead the MAC said it would offer $47.5 million, but homeowners would have
to pay approximately ˝ the costs. According to Bowles, a class representative in the homeowners’
case, "The MAC's conduct to homeowners has been completely dishonorable."
The affected Cities and homeowners have initiated two separate lawsuits to ask the Court to enforce
the MAC's promise. In the homeowners' case, MAC has repeatedly tried to get the case dismissed. In
court documents filed by MAC, the Commission has argued that as a legislative body, one commission
cannot make a commitment that binds a future commission. According to the homeowners' attorney,
Carolyn Anderson, "Ironically, the MAC's primary argument in our case is that the current MAC is not
required to keep a promise made by a previous MAC. Today's announcement completely flies in the
face of that position. If MAC can make a 13-year promise to the airlines today, they surely should be
held to a promise they made to homeowners in 1996."
At the regularly scheduled MAC Commission meeting today, the proposal was discussed by the
Commissioners as well as by the public officials, homeowners, and other interested parties attending
the meeting. Among those who spoke urging the MAC to follow through on their commitment to fully
fund the sound insulation program were Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Senator Scott Dibble, and
Carolyn Anderson, one of the attorneys for the Class in the homeowners’ litigation.
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