Buffalo City Tourism awards grant for fun fly

The air above the floor of the Jamestown Civic Center will be buzzing with the sound of aircraft on Nov. 17. That’s the day the Buffalo City Radio Controlled Squadron will hold a daylong fun fly for pilots of all skill levels.

The event received a $700 grant from the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation during the foundation’s regular meeting Friday.

“We plan to have multiple planes flying with some planes doing dog fighting,” said Larry Gilge, activity director for the squadron. “We’re looking to have between 30 and 35 actual pilots.”

The event will feature electric-powered planes and helicopters, according to Mike Propeck, another event planner with the squadron.

“It is free and open to the public,” he said. “We’ll have everything from experts who are sponsored by equipment manufacturers to hands-on training with beginner-type equipment. There will be vendors available for people to get started in the sport and the Civic Center will have concessions.”

Tourism officials felt the event would benefit the community.

“I like it because it is a winter event,” said Nina Sneider, BCTF executive director.

Gilge said this year’s event is a single day concentrating on radio-controlled aircraft. In the future they hope to expand to multiple days and include radio-controlled cars and trucks.

“This has the potential for growth,” said Alden Kohlman, member of the BCTF executive board. “Maybe 50 people this year and 150 next year.”

In other business, the BCTF executive board also named Kohlman, Scott Hare, board treasurer, and Dave Smette, board president, to a committee to negotiate with Jamestown officials for a new contract and budget.

BCTF is under contract to Jamestown to provide tourism management services. That contract expires at the end of 2012. In the past BCTF received 100 percent of the lodging taxes and 40 percent of the restaurant taxes generated in Jamestown.

The City Council approved negotiating a new contract with BCTF based on a budget dollar amount each year.

“We’re looking to work with the city to determine a realistic budget for 2013 and beyond as part of the negotiations with the city,” Kohlman said.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, tourism