Press Releases

NTCA Files Lawsuit to Stop $30M Airport Bonds

NTCA Files Lawsuit to Stop Unlawful Airport Bond Issuance

This week, the North Texas Conservation Association (NTCA), alongside local taxpayers and business owners, filed a lawsuit to stop the proposed issuance of approximately $30 million in bonds tied to the expansion of McKinney National Airport.

This action comes after the McKinney Community Development Corporation (MCDC) and City officials moved forward with approving the bonds at a joint meeting on March 3, 2026.

At its core, this case is about following the law and respecting the will of McKinney voters.

Under Texas law, development corporation bonds must be backed by revenue generated from the project they finance. In this case, the airport does not generate enough revenue to support the bonds. Instead, the proposed structure relies on sales tax dollars collected from the community.

The law does not allow that.

The City of McKinney’s charter is also clear: bondholders cannot be repaid using tax-generated funds. Yet this proposal does exactly that by pledging sales tax revenue to secure repayment.
McKinney voters have already spoken on this issue. In both 2015 and 2023, residents rejected bond measures to fund airport expansion. This latest effort attempts to move forward using a different mechanism—but with the same financial burden ultimately falling on taxpayers.

NTCA believes this approach is not only inconsistent with state law and the city charter, but also ignores the clear voice of the community.

The lawsuit asks the court to immediately halt the issuance of these bonds and declare the actions unlawful. It seeks a temporary restraining order, as well as temporary and permanent injunctions to prevent further steps toward issuance.

This case is not about seeking damages. It is about ensuring that the law is followed and that major financial decisions are made transparently and within legal boundaries.

Approval by the Texas Attorney General would significantly limit the ability to challenge these bonds moving forward. Accordingly, this lawsuit is critical, as it seeks timely judicial review before the bonds are finalized and insulated from further legal scrutiny.
We are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from our community.

This is a collective effort, and we cannot do it without you. To continue this fight, we are seeking donor support to help cover legal expenses and ensure this case is fully pursued.
If you would like to donate and support this effort, please visit the link below. 

We will continue to keep you informed as this process moves forward.

To stay up to date on this case and all future updates, please visit our website and follow us on Facebook.

With Gratitude,
North Texas Conservation Association

NTCA Encourages Exploration of North Texas Regional Airport Alternative

NTCA Encourages Exploration of North Texas Regional  Airport as an Alternative to McKinney Airport Expansion 

The North Texas Conservation Association (NTCA) continues to advocate for thoughtful, transparent decision-making when it comes to major infrastructure projects that impact the communities and environment of North Texas. As conversations surrounding the future of commercial air service in Collin County and North Texas continue to swirl, NTCA encourages local and regional leaders to explore the potential of the North Texas Regional Airport INTRA) in Grayson County  as a viable alternative to expanding commercial operations at the McKinney airport. 

While the McKinney airport expansion has raised significant concerns among residents due to  increased noise exposure, air pollution, traffic, and changes to the character of surrounding neighborhoods—there are other options worth examining. NTRA already has a runway longer than Love Field  with planned  regional transportation, and ample room for expansion.  These capabilities could help all North Texas communities conquer the region’s rapidly growing needs for commercial air service.. 

NTCA believes responsible planning requires a full evaluation of all available alternatives. By examining options like NTRA alongside other regional transportation and growth solutions, leaders can ensure that decisions are made with transparency, public input, and long-term sustainability in mind. 

Our goal has always been to encourage open dialogue and careful consideration of choices that affect North Texas communities. Exploring alternatives such as NTRA in Grayson County allows leaders to look at the bigger picture and consider solutions that may better align with regional needs and community interests. 

NTCA will continue working with residents, community leaders, and policymakers to ensure that any decisions regarding future air service in North Texas are made openly, responsibly, and with the best interests of North Texas communities at heart. 

With gratitude,
North Texas Conservation Association

NTCA Statement on Avelo Service Reductions and McKinney Implications

Dear Friends of the North Texas Conservation Association,

This week, the North Texas Conservation Association has been reviewing significant new developments regarding Avelo Airlines, the carrier selected by the City of McKinney to provide commercial passenger service at McKinney National Airport. Avelo has announced widespread service reductions across its network, cutting flights and withdrawing from multiple markets as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts. These actions raise serious questions about the airline’s ability to sustain long-term operations in the communities it serves—including McKinney.

Avelo’s decision to scale back service elsewhere highlights a troubling reality: when faced with financial and operational pressures, the airline has not been able to maintain its presence in certain markets. This raises important concerns about whether McKinney may be assuming long-term financial, infrastructure, and environmental risks tied to an airline whose operational footprint is actively shrinking.

Residents deserve clear answers. What protections are in place if Avelo reduces or withdraws service at McKinney National? What financial exposure could taxpayers face if infrastructure investments move forward but service is later reduced or discontinued? These questions are especially important given the scale and permanence of commercial aviation infrastructure and its impact on surrounding communities.

These developments also reinforce broader concerns about transparency. Matters related to Avelo Airlines and the airline selection process were never clearly presented on public City Council agendas in a way that allowed residents to fully understand the scope and implications of the decision before a contract was signed. Many residents were not given a meaningful opportunity to review or participate in discussions that will shape the future of their community for decades to come.

This is not simply about one airline. It is about ensuring that major infrastructure decisions impacting the environment and involving public resources are made responsibly, transparently, and with full public awareness—especially when those decisions involve partners whose long-term operational stability remains uncertain.

The North Texas Conservation Association will continue monitoring these developments closely and advocating for transparency, accountability, and responsible planning on behalf of McKinney residents and other North Texans.

We encourage all residents to stay informed, ask questions, and remain engaged. Community voices matter. Accountability matters. The future and environment of North Texas depends on ensuring decisions are made openly, responsibly, and with the people.

If you share our concerns, we urge you to stay connected with NTCA, attend upcoming public meetings, and help ensure that transparency and community input remain at the center of local decision-making.

With gratitude,

North Texas Conservation Association

Concerns Raised Over Public Process in Avelo Agreement

Dear Friends of the North Texas Conservation Association,

This week, the North Texas Conservation Association has been looking into concerning developments regarding the City of McKinney’s agreement with Avelo Airlines—developments that raise serious questions about transparency, accountability, and public trust.

Despite the magnitude of this decision and its potential long-term impact on our community, the contract with Avelo Airlines, or any matters regarding Avelo, have never clearly been listed on any public City Council agenda in a way that would signal to residents what was truly being considered. There was no meaningful opportunity for residents to review, understand, or respond before the agreement moved forward. For a decision with far-reaching implications—including increased air traffic, environmental impact, noise exposure, and changes to the character of surrounding neighborhoods—this lack of visibility is deeply troubling.

Residents deserve transparency. They deserve the ability to participate in decisions that directly affect their homes, their health, their environment, and their future. Instead, many are only now learning about agreements that appear to have been negotiated and advanced without clear public disclosure or open community dialogue.

This is not simply about one contract. It is about a pattern of decision-making that risks excluding the very people who will live with the consequences. Communities near the airport, families at Heritage Ranch, visitors to the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, and countless others who rely on the peace and environmental stability of this region were not given a fair opportunity to be heard.

At a time when McKinney faces pressing infrastructure needs—roads, safety, and essential services—residents must also question how public resources, attention, and long-term planning priorities are being allocated.

The North Texas Conservation Association is actively working to gather complete documentation, clarify the timeline of decisions, and ensure residents have access to accurate information. We remain committed to advocating for transparency, environmental responsibility, and meaningful public involvement in decisions that shape our shared future.

We encourage all residents to stay informed, ask questions, and remain engaged. Community voices matter. Accountability matters. And the future of North Texas depends on ensuring decisions are made openly, responsibly, and with the people—not around them.

If you share our concerns, we urge you to stay connected with NTCA, attend upcoming public meetings, and help ensure that transparency and community input remain at the center of local decision-making. Together, we can protect the integrity, environmental health, and long-term future of our community.

With gratitude,
North Texas Conservation Association

An Update on NTCA’s Advocacy Efforts
Dear Friends of the North Texas Conservation Association,
We want to speak directly to you—not just as supporters of conservation, but as community members invested in the future of North Texas and the people who call it home.
In recent months, NTCA has been focused on protecting our community from development decisions that risk long-term harm in the name of short-term progress. While city leaders continue to dedicate time, attention, and resources toward airport-related expansion efforts, many urgent community needs remain unresolved—aging roads, infrastructure improvements, and quality-of-life issues that residents experience every single day.
At the same time, the environmental consequences of unchecked expansion have become increasingly clear. NTCA has been heavily focused on evaluating and communicating the environmental impacts tied to these plans, including rising noise levels, disruption of wildlife habitats, and long-term ecological strain. Areas near conservation spaces like the Heard Wildlife Museum—and residential communities such as Heritage Ranch, a large retirement community—stand to be directly affected.
Noise pollution is a particularly serious concern. Increased aircraft activity doesn’t just alter the skyline—it changes daily life. For residents, especially seniors, persistent noise can affect health, well-being, and peace in their own homes. For wildlife and protected land, it disrupts natural behavior, migration patterns, and ecosystems that cannot easily recover once disturbed.
These impacts are not theoretical. They affect real people, real neighborhoods, and real places that deserve protection. NTCA’s position is rooted in the belief that growth should not come at the expense of environmental stewardship, community health, or the voices of those most impacted.
Our mission is not to oppose progress—but to insist that progress be responsible, thoughtful, and aligned with the long-term interests of our community. That means asking hard questions, drawing firm boundaries, and advocating for decision-making that prioritizes people, land, and sustainability over momentum.
We encourage you to stay engaged—share NTCA’s message, attend upcoming meetings, and continue supporting our advocacy efforts. We will continue to update our community with updates on our efforts to create transparency and understanding. Your involvement helps ensure that conservation, community well-being, and environmental responsibility remain at the center of North Texas’ future.
Thank you for standing with us and for believing that our community deserves careful, compassionate leadership—now and for generations to come.
With gratitude,
North Texas Conservation Association

Statement Regarding City of McKinney Announcement of "Avelo Airlines Agreement."

There has been a serious erosion of trust between the citizens of McKinney and their city government. The erosion of trust stems largely from the McKinney City Council’s disregard for the will of the people and a general lack of transparency on significant matters. This is particularly true for matters concerning the planned expansion of McKinney National Airport. 

The citizens of McKinney deserve better from their elected officials.

Avelo Airlines Agreement:

NTCA, along with members of the public, were surprised to learn yesterday that the City of McKinney has already entered into an Airline Use and Lease Agreement with Avelo Airlines. NTCA is not aware of any item on McKinney City Council’s meeting agendas to indicate it was about to sign a formal agreement with Avelo. 

When WFAA broke the news back in June 2025 that the city had a letter of intent with Avelo, members of the public voiced concerns about Avelo’s financial condition and its role in deporting immigrants from the United States. In view of this widespread sentiment, the City of McKinney should have been completely transparent about its dealings with Avelo. The city, however, chose to keep those dealings quiet and to make the final Avelo agreement public only after it had been signed. 

The citizens of McKinney have a right to know the terms of the Avelo agreement, particularly the financial terms. Is the City of McKinney paying money or offering other incentives for Avelo to begin commercial service to the McKinney airport? At the very least, the citizens of McKinney should have been permitted to have their voices heard before the City Council authorized the agreement with Avelo.

Lack of transparency from the McKinney city government has become far too common. The citizens of McKinney deserve better.

April 2025 Environmental Assessment:

NTCA’s petition asking a court to review the April 2025 Environmental Assessment (EA) on the airport expansion was recently dismissed because the City of McKinney took a position in court that contradicted what the city (and TxDOT) told the public when the EA was issued in April 2025. 

When the EA was issued, the City of McKinney and TxDOT told the public the EA was being issued on behalf of the FAA and that it could be judicially reviewed as an FAA decision “in the appropriate US Court of Appeals no later than 60 days after the order is issued in accordance with the provisions of 49 USC § 46110.” See the attached FONSI_ROD at pp. 1 and 9. 

NTCA did exactly that. We filed our petition under 49 USC § 46110 in the D.C. Court of Appeals within the 60-day deadline.

The FAA, TxDOT and the City immediately moved to dismiss NTCA’s petition, arguing – contrary to what the city and TxDOT told the public – that the EA and the accompanying FONSI_ROD were not actually an FAA order at all and that 49 USC § 46110 was not the proper way to seek judicial review. Faced with the FAA’s disavowal of the EA and FONSI_ROD, the court held that it did not have jurisdiction under 49 USC § 46110 and dismissed NTCA’s petition. Seethe attached October 29, 2025, Per Curiam Order. This dismissal was on procedural grounds. The court did not address the merits of the case.

The City of McKinney has never explained why it told the public that the April 2025 EA was an FAA order and later, in July 2025, told the court the EA was not actually an FAA order. 

The City of McKinney has never explained why it has broken ground and begun construction on the airport expansion when it knows it does not have a proper EA approved by the FAA.

NTCA will not appeal the recent dismissal of its petition. Various other options are available to challenge the airport expansion under environmental laws and otherwise, and NTCA is actively evaluating those options.

For further information, please visit the NTCA website at www.ntconservation.org
 

NTCA’s initial investigation indicated that the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the McKinney National Airport expansion is fundamentally flawed. After further investigation and litigation developments, NTCA can now confirm that the EA is so flawed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declined to sign off on it.

The City of McKinney and the Texas Department of Transportation – Aviation Division (TxDOT) signed the final EA in April 2025. The accompanying Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD), issued by TxDOT, stated that it was being issued “on behalf” of the FAA. It also included the following notice:

“This FONSI/ROD constitutes a final order of the [FAA] under 49 U.S.C. 46110. Any party having substantial interest in this order may apply for review of the decision by filing a petition for review in the appropriate US Court of Appeals no later than 60 days after the order is issued in accordance with the provisions of 49 USC § 46110.”

After NTCA filed its petition for judicial review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the FAA, TxDOT, and the City moved to dismiss the case. Surprisingly – despite what was told to the public – the FAA, TxDOT and the City told the court the EA is “not an FAA decision.” Based on that admission, the court dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

While the case was pending, NTCA learned the FAA advised TxDOT and the City in June 2024 that the FAA declined to sign off on the EA because it had not been prepared in accordance with FAA requirements.

All this raises the following burning questions:

1. Why did the City and TxDOT tell the public in April 2025 the EA was a final order of the FAA and later, in July 2025, tell the court the EA was actually not an FAA decision?
2. Why did the City pay over $600,000 for an EA that does not meet FAA requirements?
3. Why did the City and TxDOT solicit comments on the draft EA in November 2024 and present the final EA to the public in April 2025 as if it were a decision of the FAA, when they already knew as early as June 2024 the FAA had declined to sign off on the EA?
4. Why has the City broken ground and begun construction on the airport expansion when it knows it does not have a proper environmental assessment or final FAA approval?

This is far from a done deal. NTCA is continuing to investigate this matter to obtain answers to these questions and evaluate potential further actions.

NTCA continues to believe the North Texas Regional Airport in Grayson County offers the most economical and environmentally friendly location for future, additional passenger service in North Texas.

For further information, please visit the NTCA website at www.ntconservation.org
 

McKinney’s controversial airport expansion seems mired in ethics violations, secret meetings, and developer influence – despite voters twice rejecting taxpayer funding for the project. Evidence points to a troubling pattern of deception and disregard for public trust.

• Texas Ethics Commission fined the campaign treasurer of 'McKinney Above the Rest’ – a pro-airport PAC – $2,500 for failing to timely disclose over $70,000 in contributions and expenditures for the airport bond election in 2023.
• Political insiders and developers were behind the PAC, such as former Mayor George Fuller, former Mayor Brian Loughmiller, former Councilman David Brooks, and developer David Craig.
• Voters twice rejected airport bond measures, in 2015 (52% - 48%) and in 2023 (59% - 41%), but city leaders refused to listen and, instead, pushed the project forward.
•  In 2025, city leaders proceeded to fund the airport expansion by issuing revenue bonds backed by city sales taxes.
• On July 18, 2025, city leaders held a secret groundbreaking on the airport expansion project and asked the media not to report on the groundbreaking until it was over.

Citizens call the groundbreaking a betrayal– describing city hall as 'throwing dirt in the faces of taxpayers while hiding behind fences.' Social media comments and local groups reveal overwhelming opposition to the expansion and mounting distrust in city leadership. North Texas Conservation Association has filed a federal lawsuit, challenging the April 2025 Environmental Assessment on the airport project.

McKinney deserves leadership that listens to its citizens, and that prioritizes transparency over secrecy and accountability over political gain. It’s time for truth, not deception.

1. Conduct a proper environmental study on the entire airport project, not just the terminal area.

2. Publicly release all PAC and city records tied to the airport project immediately.

3. Conduct an independent investigation into potential city/developer coordination.
 

McKinney, TX — May 27th, 2025. Yesterday, the North Texas Conservation Association (NTCA) filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (North Texas Conservation Ass’n v. Texas Dep’t of Transp., Case No. 25-1135) challenging the Environmental Assessment (EA) related to the planned expansion of McKinney National Airport.

The petition contends that the EA—approved by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), McKinney Mayor George Fuller, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—fails to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NTCA is asking the Court to vacate the FAA’s Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the accompanying Record of Decision (ROD), and to remand the EA back to TXDOT for a thorough and legally compliant environmental review.

NTCA’s President, Dr. Paul Chabot, stated, “We believe the environmental assessment done on the McKinney airport expansion is seriously flawed. It fails to fully and adequately consider environmental impacts in the vicinity of the airport, such as the Heard Museum and residential areas in McKinney and Fairview. The people of North Texas deserve better.” 

NTCA’s General Counsel, Steven E. Ross, says, “The McKinney City Council seems to have been more interested in meeting the timeline set by some unnamed commercial airlines than listening to voters.”

NTCA, a nonprofit corporation that has applied for 501(c)(3) status, is dedicated to protecting the region’s environment, wildlife habitats, and rural character.

To engage with the community and provide further information, NTCA will host two upcoming town hall meetings:

• June      11, 2025 – Fairview, TX
• June      19, 2025 – McKinney, TX

Registration and additional details are available at: ntconservation.org. A copy of the filed petition can also be found on this website. 

Media Contact: Email: info@ntconservation.org

 

In response to NTCA’s request for federal court review of the deeply flawed Environmental Assessment (EA) conducted for the McKinney airport expansion, the city, led by outgoing Mayor George Fuller, immediately responded with mudslinging and personal attacks. That is unfortunate and not helpful. The people of North Texas deserve better.

- Some have claimed that NCTA’s request for judicial review is a political stunt. That is incorrect. NTCA does not support or oppose any of the candidates in the current McKinney runoff election. The voters of McKinney should make their own choices in the runoff. NTCA’s case will likely remain pending long after McKinney’s runoff election is over.

- The timing of NTCA’s petition for review was based entirely on the timing of the issuance of the final environmental assessment regarding the airport expansion. TxDot issued a first “final” EA on March 27, 2025, and a corrected final EA on April 21, 2025. Federal law gives interested parties up to 60 days to file a petition seeking judicial review of an EA. NTCA timely filed its petition for review on May 26, 2025, within the 60-day window. If the city and TxDOT had finalized the EA sooner, NTCA would have filed sooner.

- The City of McKinney’s irresponsible comments, through its Mayor George Fuller, try to paint the request for judicial review as a political stunt driven by Dr. Paul Chabot.  That is also incorrect. Actually, it was NTCA’s General Counsel, Steven Ross, who posed the idea for NTCA to leading figures from McKinney and Fairview.  These leaders joined together to form NTCA. NTCA has broad support from North Texas.