The Elbow Lake-Grant County Joint Airport Zoning Board, created and established by joint action of the City Council, the Board of County Commissioners of Grant County, and Board of Supervisors of Sanford Township, pursuant to the provisions and authority of M.S. § 360.063, as it may be amended from time to time, hereby finds and declares that:
(A) An airport hazard endangers the lives and property of users of the Elbow Lake Municipal Airport, and property or occupants of land in its vicinity, and also, if of the obstructive type, in effect reduces the size of the area available for the landing, takeoff and maneuvering of aircraft, thus tending to destroy or impair the utility of the Elbow Lake Municipal Airport and the public investments therein;
(B) The creation or establishment of an airport hazard is a public nuisance and an injury to the region served by the Elbow Lake Municipal Airport;
(C) A heliport hazard endangers the lives and property of users of the Prairie Ridge Hospital and Health Services Heliport, and property or occupants of land in its vicinity; and also if of the obstructive type, in effect reduces the size of the area available for the landing, takeoff, and maneuvering of aircraft, thus tending to destroy or impair the utility of said Heliport;
(D) The creation or establishment of a heliport hazard is a public nuisance and an injury to the region served by the Prairie Ridge Hospital and Health Services Heliport;
(E) For the protection of the public health, safety, order, convenience, prosperity and general wealth, and for the promotion of the most appropriate use of land, it is necessary to prevent the creation or establishment of airport and heliport hazards;
(F) The prevention of airport and heliport hazards should be accomplished, to the extent legally possible, by the exercise of police power without compensation;
(G) The prevention of the creation or establishment of airport and heliport hazards and the elimination, removal, alteration, mitigation or marking and lighting of existing airport and heliport hazards are public purposes for which political subdivisions may raise and expend public funds; and
(H) The Elbow Lake Municipal Airport and Prairie Ridge Hospital and Health Services Heliport are essential public facilities that serve important public transportation roles and provide a public good.
(Ord. passed 11-2-20)