Once again the Lawrence County Airpark is mired in controversy, raising questions as to what real benefit this government property provides most of our citizens.

Officials are in a legal battle to acquire adjacent property through eminent domain in order to address what the county commissioners and the FAA see as a safety issue.

This is only the most recent in a list of problems facing the airport that includes a negligence lawsuit filed by an individual who was injured there, questions about how the county should oversee the facility and concerns over other ways the property can be utilized.

All this begs the question: What does having the airpark provide to Lawrence County, and more importantly, its taxpayers?

The facility is primarily used by a handful of pilots for personal use. Although this is important, the number of those benefitting is relatively small. It is not large enough for corporate planes and some pilots say the facilities are so bad they would rather go elsewhere.

One challenge is that the property was deeded to the county with the express purpose of being an airport.

But, times change. Needs evolve.

Now may be the time for the county to look at all its options.

Could the airpark be expanded to provide significant benefit to our region? Could the property be utilized for something else, such as a community park with Tri-State draw like Central Park in Ashland, Ky., or Ritter Park in Huntington, W.Va Would the county be better off financially if the land was returned to the original owners so it could be developed for residential and commercial use?

The commissioners have been focused on the individual issues but shouldn’t overlook the big picture: Does operating an airport provide any benefit to the majority of citizens?

That question could eliminate others and lead to even more important answers.