By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

City officials heard from many tense and upset residents of eastern Cincinnati and the surrounding communities Thursday at two public hearings over proposed changes at Lunken Airport.

But those residents didn't hear much in return, causing even more frustration for many who have fought to keep noise at its current levels at the city-owned airport.

"This was nothing more than a public burp," said Mary Blum Rusk of Newtown, one of 19 to speak to several city officials in the morning session that was attended by about 50. "They only did this because they had to - we might as well have been talking to a wall."

The hearings were held to garner feedback over the proposed entry of JetLink Express, a startup airline that wants to begin charter service out of Lunken. The service would net the airport an additional $80,000 in revenue initially.

The company wants to begin charters using small commuter jets. Its business plan calls for the introduction of scheduled passenger service next year, which could net the airport an additional $440,000 annually. Its initial proposal called for service to begin Thursday, but no word was given on when it would actually start.

Those on hand at the hearing, required by Lunken administrative rules created in 1975, were allowed to speak for about two minutes each. No questions were answered, and no feedback was given. In a memo to City Council Monday, City Manager Valerie Lemmie said "this type of testimony does not have direct bearing on the topic of the hearing ... and does not change our obligation to permit JetLink to operate."

In the morning session, four speakers were either in favor of the new company or said they would not mind it. But the rest expressed concern over the possibility of new noise, the lack of communication from the city, and the potential loss in property values.

"The administration has taken the short-term view of what is good for the city and is taking the $440,000 carrot that has been dangled in front of them," said Tony Giglio of Mount Lookout, one of many members of the Lunken Neighborhood Coalition in attendance. "How would that compare with a one percent drop in property values around here because of increased noise? Not very well."

They also accused administrators of bypassing a City Council resolution passed in December. That resolution barred the city from pursuing any new passenger service or making any changes at the airport until a master plan and ongoing noise study is complete. The noise study could be completed as soon as this summer; the master plan should be done in about a year.

"We need to look long and hard as to whether this is stepping over a dollar to get a nickel," said Councilman Chris Monzel, who introduced the December ordinance. "I want to make sure the city doesn't lose control of the situation to bureaucracies either here or in Washington. And I don't feel like we have gotten a straight answer as to what the long-term implications of this could be."

After the morning meeting, however, Lunken Airport Manager Dan Dickten said the airport did not pursue JetLink, which initiated the contact. He said the city has little choice but to let the new company start operations, unless it wants to run the risk of losing Federal Aviation Administration grants.

The airport got $455,000 in such grants last year, Dickten said, and more than $1 million immediately following the Sept. 11 terror attacks to improve security and runway areas.

The airport is limited to allowing scheduled passenger service for planes that carry 30 passengers or less, and is required to let anyone who qualifies use the airport.

JetLink has said it wants to eventually use 50-seat regional jets, but Dickten has said the city has told the company that it could not go that high until the studies are complete.

"They are fine with that," Dickten said.

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com