Airport debate might be flying toward ballot

A citizens’ group opposed to Pitkin County’s direction on the airport intends to start gathering signatures on an initiative petition this summer and force a question onto the November general election ballot.

Chuck Butler, a leader of Citizens Against Bigger Planes, said the group has hired attorney Mark Grueskin for guidance through the initiative process. Grueskin is regarded as a top election attorney in Colorado. Butler said the attorney and his team are researching Pitkin County’s specific process for getting an initiative question on the ballot.

Pitkin County commissioners voted 4-1 on Wednesday to authorize changes to an Airport Layout Plan that would allow a wider runway to be constructed 80 feet west of where it is currently located. The new runway could accommodate bigger aircraft.