More Wasteful Spending

When I read this story in the newspaper about an airport I'd never heard of, I had to investigate further. From the paper:

U.S. Rep. Mike Ross and U.S. Sens. John Boozman (BOHZ'-man) and Mark Pryor say Grant County will receive more than $312,000 to make improvements at Sheridan Municipal Airport.

The men announced Friday that the $312,607 grant is from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The money will be used to deter unauthorized persons and vehicles from entering onto the airfield.

Ross says the investment at the airport will make it safer and stronger for its passengers and the surrounding communities.

Boozman and Pryor both say the improvements are important for economic development.

We need to deter unauthorized persons and vehicles from THIS airfield? Really? Should people from Idaho and North Carolina and Michigan shell out $312,607 of their hard earned money for THIS?

Stats:

Control Tower: No
Wind Indicator: Yes, Not Lighted
Lighting Schedule: DUSK-DAWN
Single Engine Aircraft Based on Field: 11
Multi-Engine Aircraft Based on Field: 1
Jet Aircraft Based on Field: none
Helicopters Based on Field: none
Military Aircraft Based on Field: none
Annual Commercial Operations: none
Annual Commuter Operations: none
Annual Air Taxi Operations: none
Annual Military Operations: 400
Annual GA Local Operations: 3400
Annual GA Itinerant Operations: 5000

I thought the "powers that be" were going to crack down on these idiotic airport expenditures? It looks to me like politics as usual.