South metro legislators are trying to get their cities on the Metropolitan Airports Commission's radar.

Burnsville's Sen. John Doll, D-40, and Rep. Will Morgan, D-40A, have introduced sister bills that would create seats for officials from Burnsville, Eagan, Apple Valley Mendota Heights, Bloomington and Richfield on the governing body of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). The bills are receiving bi-partisan support.

"If cities had a more direct role in the decision making process, the needs of residents would be better met and in a more timely fashion," said Doll.

Similar bills taking off in the House and Senate were authored by Rep. Rick Hansen, D-39A, and Sen. Jim Metzen, D-39, of South St. Paul, which proposes adding seats for Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights and Richfield.

MAC operates the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and is comprised of 12 members appointed by the governor based on statewide districts, and two mayor representatives, one from Minneapolis and one from St. Paul.

Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-37, of Apple Valley as well as Sen. Jim Carlson, D-38, of Eagan signed on to Doll's bill. Gerlach said that as the airport has grown, so has the area it impacts.

"We need to make sure we have adequate representation on the MAC board," he said.

In addition to noise issues, the airport has an economic and transportation impact on south metro communities. The current configuration of the MAC board is out of date for today's needs, Gerlach said.

"The quality of life of the people living around the airport is directly affected by the decisions the MAC makes," said Morgan.

The Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee heard the bill last week where Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz testified in support. If the bill passes, it would give cities a greater voice related to the jet noise and how that noise can be controlled.

Similar to Burnsville, Apple Valley City Administrator Tom Lawell said that Apple Valley's main issue is noise, new to the community since the south-facing runway opened more than a year ago.

"It has not received the focus we feel it should at the MAC," said Lawell.

Most of the noise discussions at MAC meetings have focused on the cities closer to the airport and litigation related to installation promised for soundproofing homes.

"Airport noise diminishes the quality of life for residents around the airport. They deserve a representative at the table when discussing how the MAC should be making noise mitigating improvements," said Doll.

Apple Valley received a rotating seat on the MAC's Noise Oversight Committee last fall. City Councilmember John Bergman sits on that committee, which serves as an advisory body to the MAC.

"We have access to better data; I think it's been helpful in that way," said Lawell.

However, Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan are frustrated with the FAA's decision not to use the river corridor as heavily during takeoffs. The idea was to fan out the distribution of flights over the river to prevent additional noise for Eagan, Burnsville and Apple Valley residents. But the FAA has said the flight path over the river corridor can disrupt flights off the two parallel runways.

"They have to deliver the kinds of promises that were out there," Lawell said. "By having a greater impact at the highest level, which is the MAC, I think it would be significantly better."

Morgan said that after the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee heard the bill, members recognized there is a legitimate need for reforming the MAC.

"I am glad to see that this issue is being addressed," Morgan said. "By giving this initiative the attention it deserves, I am hopeful that we will achieve significant reform on the MAC that will bring good results back to Burnsville."

Doll said he is hopeful it will pass.

"At a minimum, it will ignite some serious discussion about the need for input from folks who live near the airport and about the MAC's responsibility to surrounding communities when it expands a runway facility."

To track these bills, visit www.senate.leg.state.mn.us or www.house.leg.state.mn.us.

(You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.)

Most of the noise discussions at MAC meetings have focused on the cities closer to the airport and litigation related to installation promised for soundproofing homes.

"Airport noise diminishes the quality of life for residents around the airport. They deserve a representative at the table when discussing how the MAC should be making noise mitigating improvements," said Doll.

Apple Valley received a rotating seat on the MAC's Noise Oversight Committee last fall. City Councilmember John Bergman sits on that committee, which serves as an advisory body to the MAC.

"We have access to better data; I think it's been helpful in that way," said Lawell.

However, Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan are frustrated with the FAA's decision not to use the river corridor as heavily during takeoffs. The idea was to fan out the distribution of flights over the river to prevent additional noise for Eagan, Burnsville and Apple Valley residents. But the FAA has said the flight path over the river corridor can disrupt flights off the two parallel runways.

"They have to deliver the kinds of promises that were out there," Lawell said. "By having a greater impact at the highest level, which is the MAC, I think it would be significantly better."

Morgan said that after the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee heard the bill, members recognized there is a legitimate need for reforming the MAC.

"I am glad to see that this issue is being addressed," Morgan said. "By giving this initiative the attention it deserves, I am hopeful that we will achieve significant reform on the MAC that will bring good results back to Burnsville."

Doll said he is hopeful it will pass.

"At a minimum, it will ignite some serious discussion about the need for input from folks who live near the airport and about the MAC's responsibility to surrounding communities when it expands a runway facility."

To track these bills, visit www.senate.leg.state.mn.us or www.house.leg.state.mn.us.

(You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.)