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11 <br /> Next Steps <br /> The Task Force is convinced that a new general aviation airport in <br /> Orange County is both necessary and desirable. However, in this <br /> report the Task Force is not recommending to the Orange County Board <br /> of Commissioners that it make a formal decision at the present time <br /> to construct and operate an airport. <br /> Rather, the Task Force does recommend to the Board that it proceed <br /> with steps leading to such a decision, expecting that the actual <br /> decision, in due course, may well be "construct and operate." <br /> Basically the next steps are to conduct a feasibility study, followed <br /> by a master plan-site selection-environmental analysis. These <br /> studies should be conducted by a qualified engineer, one thoroughly <br /> familiar with the entire airport development process. Estimates <br /> for the cost of these studies are in the $75, 000 - $100, 000 range and <br /> the studies do qualify for 50% state aid. <br /> The Task Force recommends, consequently, that the county proceed with <br /> the selection of an airport engineering firm and request the firm to <br /> prepare the necessary applications for state aid for the initial <br /> feasibility study. <br /> CONCLUSIONS <br /> on January 20, 1987, the orange County Board of Commissioners gave a <br /> charge to the Airport Issues Task Force. The Task Force summarized <br /> the charge to be: <br /> Orange County should or should not seek to build a new <br /> general aviation airport and seek to relocate or not <br /> relocate Horace Williams Airport for such and such <br /> reasons. <br /> The Task Force considers that Orange County should seek to build a <br /> new general aviation airport. <br /> In some respects the charge from the Commissioners was phrased in <br /> very specific terms. The charge could be read as a request for a <br /> very specific and detailed feasibility plan. Such a plan the Task <br /> Force has not attempted to prepare. Rather, the Task Force has con- <br /> centrated on obtaining the data necessary to respond to the basic <br /> charge, and has not sought to prepare the appropriate next step, a <br /> detailed feasibility study. <br /> The Task Force thanks the Board of Commissioners for its willingness <br /> on its own motion to consider the airport needs of Orange County. The <br /> needs are large and they can be met to the lasting benefit of the <br /> county. <br />