April 29, 2021
Perspective and Opinion by Tom Harris, Associate Editor
Updated with new information (ed.)
Airport Closure Issues
Update – 8:20 AM, April 30. Following the initial SCPOA board meeting story (below) the Sentinel can report there have been some positive developments. The Board on it’s website scpoa.info announced “…Closing of the airport for the MFPD evacuation, and the Murfs event, have been cancelled…”
Update – 11:50 PM, April 30. The positive development was premature. The board removed that statement from its website. It appears “the only source for official and accurate information about your association!” is unreliable. So much for “accurate information“. The only thing “accurate” about it is that it is the propaganda media outlet for certain board members.
Additionally, the owner of the property adjacent to the runway, has given our fire chief, Jack Rosevear, written permission to use and or access his property for fire department training exercises, evacuation drills and or emergency use, so long as the runway remains open for its intended use. The Association is still waiting for the airport information documents to be posted on it’s web site based on the 5-2 vote to do so. Stay tuned for this developing story.
Ms. Pullin Exercising Power
April 27 , 2021
The Sentinel attended the SCPOA open Board of Directors (BoD) meeting on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Almost all the approximately 15 attendees were Swansboro pilots and/or supporters of the Swansboro Airport. Nonetheless, SCPOA Board of Directors, President Karen Pullin, continued pushing the envelope of her credibility, (and respect) with her continued harassment and assault of aircraft owners and her threats to close the Swansboro Airport. Ms. Pullin continues to push her private agenda on which she ran her election campaign: namely, that there is inherently something “illegal” or “unsafe” about the airport, the Swansboro pilots and/or their desire to exercise their legitimate rights to use this SCPOA common area for its intended purpose: namely, take-off and landing of members’ and guests’ aircraft without continued harassment by the SCPOA BoD. And the community must endure two more years of this?
By the way, every one of Ms Pullin’s election campaign issues concerning Swansboro Pilots were proven to be fallacies, misinformation, or outright lies. Furthermore, the Sentinel has learned that an executive session was held with the SCPOA attorney a few weeks ago. The attorney, Ms. O’Toole was asked if the SCPOA board could close the airport in order to hold social events. Evidently, the SCPOA attorney recommended against this. In last month’s SCPOA meeting, a board member quoted a California civil code pointing out that it is illegal for a property association board to deny any members access to a common area for its intended purpose. And now, the SCPOA attorney advised against closing the airport for social events.
Also discussed at the meeting was a complaint by a SCPOA member of violations of DC&R’s. The complaint could have applied to any number of violations within SCPOA. Not discussed were complaints of safety issues like loose Pit Bulls roaming free onto other members’ property, fighting with those members’ dogs and threatening their children. The Sentinel has also heard from SCPOA members of possible drug selling and using on SCPOA common areas at Dyer Lake, and unregistered (uninsured?) vehicles in SCPOA common areas. The Sentinel points out that there are far more pressing issues facing the present SCPOA board under Ms. Pullin than some non-existent, imaginary threat posed by legitimate, honorable, dues-paying members who happen to own and fly airplanes.
What’s more, during the meeting it was revealed that Ms. Pullin, her husband and Connell Persico (neither of whom are SCPOA board members) were seen compromising airport safety and legitimacy by walking down the center of the runway, ignoring air traffic and common sense. (Another pilot attending the meeting pointed out that an aircraft on approach to landing is difficult to see or hear.)
Ms. Pullin Humiliates Fellow Board Member
The negligent, irresponsible actions of these people were challenged at the time by Dennis Janca, a SCPOA board member who was working in his hangar. For daring to point out to Ms. Pullin that it is unsafe and prohibited to walk down the middle of an active runway. Ms. Pullin took the opportunity at the board meeting to publicly humiliate and vilify fellow board member Mr. Janka. Imagine throwing a life-preserver to someone caught in a rip tide, only to have that person whose life may have been saved, later complain that you assaulted her with a life preserver!
Keep in mind, this was not the result of a motion by the board. Ms. Pullin acted on her own. Her hyper-disciplinary behavior may be suitable for young children, but is totally inappropriate for an older, retired commercial pilot who over the course of his career has been responsible for the safety and well-being of thousands of aircraft passengers, including VIPs. The lack of leadership (and self-awareness) displayed by Ms. Pullin at a public meeting was not only misdirected and ignorant of facts, her behavior was outrageous and pathetic.
In addition, as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Air Transport Pilot (ATP), Mr. Janka is authorized by the federal Transportation Safety Administration to protect the airport. By calling out this unauthorized incursion onto the airport, Mr. Janca was doing the right thing.
Airport Closure Consequences
Finally, the Sentinel asks, is Ms. Pullin looking ahead for the good of the community, or following a personal agenda? What matters is what they do. If Ms. Pullin and her supporters succeed in their ongoing attempt to close the Swansboro airport, have they considered the resulting actions (i.e., cost of lawsuits) by SCPOA property and aircraft owners? Will SCPOA dues-payers be held liable for the legal costs associated with Ms. Pullins actions?
Remember this fact: the Swansboro airport was never an afterthought. It was a remote grass strip before, and developed concurrently with the Swansboro subdivision. Fortunately, against Ms. Pullin’s objection, the board voted 5-2, to release the entire Caltrans 01CL airport file, including the current airport permit, and post it on the scpoa.info website for the association’s members review.
Also, what are the implications for the Swansboro community if the airport property owner considers alternatives to generate revenue to pay his ongoing expenses. Keep in mind, the hangar property is private, and NOT a part of SCPOA. Among his realistic choices could be converting the hangars into storage units which could inadvertently become homeless shelters. State and federal subsidies could also be very lucrative for removing the hangars and building high-density, low-income housing. Could our community withstand the elimination of one of its most valuable assets?
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