Article published Apr 8, 2008

First step taken on runway land; time for public comment

It's a price range, not a price tag, but at least we now have some notion of what it might cost to preserve the open space off the ends of the idle runway at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

A study commissioned by the Great Falls Development Authority found that buying the land could cost between $5.5 million and $6.8 million.

Buying "development rights," the appraiser reported, could cost from $2.8 million to $4.1 million. Buying development rights would allow the owners to continue present agricultural uses of the roughly 2,000 acres off the ends of the runway, but it would preclude residential or business development.

For those who haven't followed this issue, such purchases would keep the graduated accident protection zones off the ends of the runway unencumbered and, it is hoped, more attractive to the Air Force for bringing a new flying mission to Malmstrom.

At present Malmstrom has two missions, the largest of which by far is staffing the nuclear missiles scattered in underground silos around northcentral Montana. The other is the RED HORSE Squadron, a mobile construction unit.

Just about everyone agrees that diversifying the missions of Malmstrom could help ensure its continued presence as one of the most important economic engines in the region.

The missile mission is secure for now, but it could be phased out over the next 20 years. That's why many local interests want to land a flying mission for the facility.

For its part, the Air Force says it has no plans for such a mission.

Nevertheless, here in Next Year Country, hope springs eternal despite the unpredictability of military plans and strategies. Plans change, partly because of international developments and partly because of politics. After all, a flying mission — a flight of KC-135 tankers — was based here until a Base Closure and Realignment process in 1995 moved it to Florida.

The point is, no one knows whether a flying mission can be secured for Malmstrom, but base supporters arepretty sure that if the runway space is preserved, their chances will be better.

If the space is preserved, landowners must be compensated.

The idea of buying development rights — especially at the south end where development plans already exist — seems to make sense, if only because it costs less than buying the land outright and eventual development would be easier to accommodate if no flying mission materializes.

We agreed with County Commissioner Joe Briggs when he wrote to county staff that "the amount is too large for either the city or county to take on without a public vote."

One step at a time: The GFDA-commissioned study was a needed first step; a public forum and hearings to weigh the costs and benefits will be good subsequent steps.