A brief follow up is in order for a blog I posted about the deplorable condition of the grounds surrounding Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.
I wrote that weeds are taking over the place. The parking lot, and the grounds next to the parking garage, look terrible. Seedy. Unkempt.
Then I heard from a member of the Amarillo City Council who told me that the city might not be responsible for the appearance of the place. The Texas Department of Transportation might be the offending public agency, I was told.
The council member reportedly spoke with City Manager Jarrett Atkinson about it. Atkinson said he would research the matter.
Here’s my take. City Hall, take care of the place.
Passengers who are flying in and out of AMA believe they are using a municipally-owned airport. That should include the grounds on which the airport sits. Someone walking from a jetliner into AMA understands implicitly they are entering the city of Amarillo. Thus, the city has its face on the air terminal.
Crappy-looking grounds is a blight on the city, not the state transportation agency.
Therefore, the city needs to step up, get rid of the weeds, manicure the place, and make our international airport look presentable.