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OPD looks to move helicopters to Blair

OPD looks to move helicopters to Blair
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The "Eye in the Sky" for the City of Omaha may be moving to a different county, but not everyone is on board.

The Omaha City Council will discuss moving the Omaha Police Department Helicopter Fleet from the North Omaha Airport to the Blair Airport.

The agreement would use more than $1 million to remodel the area at the Blair Airport and pay $,3000 a month for the first 5 years of the 10-year lease.

OPD says Blair would give them stability, a bigger updated hangar and offices, and a fire sprinkler system for safety.

"First we'd like to thank North Omaha Airport for all they have done and continue to do for us, but for now OPD is looking for the future and the future is at Blair Airport," OPD Sgt. Ed Reyes explained.

The OPD Helicopter Fleet has been at the North Omaha Airport for 22 years.

North Omaha Airport Owner Keith Endquist, says they've been negotiating a lease contract for two years at a cheaper price and says he would offer them a long-term deal as well.  Edward says there's also plenty of room for expansion, but he hasn't heard from the police chief as to why they're moving.

"All we have to do is simply agree they want to stay there for a period of time, I can guarantee the airport will stay open that long," Edward described.

The public hearing will be held on Oct 30, and the vote is scheduled on Nov. 6.  If the lease is passed they hope to move to Blair by Spring 2019.