# A GrowingMiles City onejob ata time. 

## MILES CITY AREAECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 1010Main Street, Miles City, Montana 59301 Email: milesecon@midrivers.com

Dock Operations M-30 WestBuildingGroundFloorW-12-140 1200New Jersey Avenue SE Washington DC 20590; 3 United States ofAmerica Department ofTransportation Office ofSecretary Washington DC RE: DocketDOS-OST-1997-2605 Phone: 406-234-2705 Fax:406-234-5705 Website: 4milesci!ybusiness.com

The Miles City Area Economic Development Council, a 22 member council representing many business leaders in our community (see attached), very strongly encourages the continuation of EssentialAir ServicetotheMontanaCommunities ofMiles City and Lewistown. The economic well being of these communities in a state

. as vast as Montana with great travel distances will take a huge hit ifair service is terminated. The increasing population and business environment due to the economic boom from oil activity is prevalent in every community in the BAS service area and creating an increasing need for essential air service from our regional communities. Our communities need air service as part of our economic lifeline and medical services for our citizens. We encourage you to continue our BAS allowing our communities time to make a plan ofaction to increase ourpassenger hoardings, workwiththe airlines tobettermarkettheir services, andto research possible changes to flight times into Miles City that would better fit the needs for the business community and meet the needs of making connecting flights in Billings. This will allow both communities and others in our BAS service area to research how we could structure the timeliness of flights as well as consider a Denver destination for the Southern most communities as part ofthe BAS package. Boardings were well above minimum requirements for those southern communities with Denver service. Termination ofthe Miles City and Lewistown communities could severelyjeopardizethe currentEAS serviceto the seven communities in Central and Eastern Montana. Itis conceivable we could lose this service for everyone. This network ofcommunities has worked together for many years to create a successful BAS. Not one of the communities in the EAS service area wants to see one of our neighbors lose their service. We know the loss would significantly affect the community and 'the group ofEAS communities. Thankyou for considering our request to NOT enforce the Order ofShow Cause atthis time and give the BAS task force time to work onthis problem. We believe a solution to this problem can be found for boththe northern and southerncommunities in ourEAS area.

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### ~. Mike C , Executive Direc r (BoardMembers supportingthis letter listed onpage 2)Jerry Austill, Owner The Frame Gallery Miles City, MT59301

Pat Cline, President USBank Miles City, MT 59301 Nick Haag, Region Manager Montana Dakota Utilities Glendive, MT 59330

John Laney, Exec. Director Miles City Chamber Miles City, MT 59301 Bill Melnik City Councilman Miles City, MT 59301 Keith Holmlund Custer County Commissioners Miles City, MT 59301 Kate Russell, Area Manager Montana Dept. of Revenue Miles City, MT 59301 JimZimmerman, VP First Interstate Bank Miles City, MT 59310 Dr. Stefani Hicswa, Pres. Miles Community College Miles City, MT 59301 Tyler Chapmon, Agent 59301 State Farm Insurance Miles City, MT 59301 Chris Griffith, Loan Officer Stockman Bank Miles City, MT Bill Wade, General Mgr. MidRivers Communications Circle, MT59215 Doug Benge, CPA Rowland, Thomas and Company Miles City, MT 59301

Keenan Zentz, Sr. Dist. Manager Sanjel USA Miles City, MT 59301 Mark Helland Rancher & Feed Producer Miles City, MT 59301

PaUl Lewis, CEO Holy Rosary Healthcare Hospital Miles City, MT59301 Jackie Muri, CPGA Holy Rosary Hospital Miles City, MT 59301 Mark Petersen, Research Leader Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Miles City, MT 59301 Dr. LewVadheim, M.D. Billings Clinic

- Miles City Miles City, MT 59301 Mike Coryell, Exec. Director MCAEDC Miles City, MT59301 Donovan McComb, Pres. First Interstate Bank Miles City, MT59301 Ron Nemic Montana Job Service Miles City, MT59301

Jack Regan, Superintendent Custer County School District Miles City, MT 59301