A construction magnate’s use of a helicopter at his $4.5 million holiday home has led to a lawsuit and numerous complaints from neighbours, it has been revealed.
Doug Schieffer, the 50-year-old CEO of Northland Concrete and Masonry, spoke about the lawsuit Monday after filing it a little less than a month earlier against the city of East Gull Lake, Minnesota. He wants to continue using the house as a heliport.
“Right now the opposition is all about grudges,” he said The Star Standciting the backlash from the lake town of less than 1,000 residents, mainly due to noise.
“We work with my company all over the Midwest,” he continued, adding that he “owns part of a lot of companies,” adding that he owns “a part of a lot of companies” but was unwilling to make them “public to make’.
The masonry magnate – who lives in Webster just two hours away – explained his insistence on flying further, saying it is important to him as a father.
“There are times when I may travel for work and with other entities that I am a part of,” he explained. ‘And going home for children’s sports, for example, that is important, and other health matters within my family.’
‘[I’m] “I’m just trying to be the best dad I can be,” he finally concluded. ‘[A]And be there as much as possible for my children, but also for my work.’
That said, the suit – which has since provoked a response from the city with photos showing the businessman repeatedly landing the leather interior in the garden of his home – is a story more than four years in the making.
Doug Schieffer, the 50-year-old CEO of Northland Concrete and Masonry, spoke about the lawsuit Monday after filing it a little less than a month earlier against the city of East Gull Lake, Minnesota.
A construction magnate’s use of a helicopter at his Minnesota vacation home has led to a lawsuit and numerous complaints from neighbors. The photo shows photos of the helicopter being used as evidence ahead of a looming trial in January
“They told me I had to design and build my house with a hangar in it, and I did that,” Schieffer explained to Tribune, recalling how he first submitted plans to build a helipad for his Bell 206L4 with six seats, which he billed as quieter than a lawn mower.
“Everyone has the right to make noise,” he insisted. “That’s absolutely madness.” In response to city officials’ insistence that he not even be allowed to store the plane on his property, he said, “They don’t have a leg to stand on.” The burden of proof is on them.’
The city, meanwhile, maintains that the helipad, which was used in photos taken by city officials last summer, violates zoning regulations.
“They’ve gotten complaints from neighbors,” said Jason Kuboushek, the city’s attorney.
“They keep getting complaints from neighbors,” he claimed. ‘Neighbors have lawyers who complain. The city just wants it to end.”
Schieffer, in response, defended his helicopter’s “passion,” telling the Twin Cities newspaper that “there.” [been] just too much opposition.’
He believes it’s just a matter of semantics — one in which city officials are supposedly splitting hairs over the legal definitions and terminology surrounding the word “airport.”
“The vast majority of my immediate neighbors don’t care, and there is no harm to them,” he said ahead of a looming courtroom showdown now scheduled for January.
“Right now the opposition is all about spite,” he told the Star Tribune, citing the backlash from the lake town, which has fewer than 1,000 residents. Pictured, his Bell 206L4 with leather interior and six seats lands illegally in the backyard of his $4.5 million home
The masonry magnate – who lives in Webster just two hours away – explained his reasons for flying on, saying it is important to him as a father. Pictured is the property, just a 2.5-hour drive from his family’s full-time home in Webster
“We work with my company all over the Midwest,” he continued, adding that he owns “part of a lot of companies” but was unwilling to “take them public.”
The hearing will take place in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District after the state’s federal court dismissed the case last December.
Within months, the Minnesota Department of Transportation issued a cease and desist order to Schieffer — an order the city says was ignored.
Photos in their response show Schieffer’s helicopter flying in the air over the summer, more than two years after county commissioners halted a new bid from the seasonal, part-time resident, who filed a permit application in the summer of 2021 only to filed as officials investigated alleged opposition from neighbors.
In April 2022, Crow Wing County commissioners unanimously updated the ordinance to now longer allow private aircraft in the shoreland district, which was designed to accommodate seaplanes.
Schieffer’s quest to commute by plane rectified that, seemingly leaving him without a legal leg to stand on.
Numerous complaints about aircraft noise were registered in 2023 – a total of nine, according to legal filings between the two sides.
The records further show that Scheiffer admitted to several cases while shooting down others.
Schieffer has been trying to install a helipad on his property since 2000, drawing up plans like this one before seeing the bid overturned by both state and county commissioners.
The renewed effort comes after he apparently built a helipad on the dock without permission after provincial laws allowed seaplane landing strips along the lake. That law has now been rejected
The city, meanwhile, claims it received a renewed stream of complaints last summer — when Scheiffer is typically seen around town. They also insist he is not legally allowed to store the helicopter on the property, as seen here this summer, as it is not an airport.
Schieffer will not appear in court on January 8, where his plea will be heard for the final time. A judge has three months to make a ruling
The city, meanwhile, claims it received a renewed stream of complaints last summer — when Scheiffer is typically seen around town.
The hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8 before District Judge Jana Austad. She has three months to make a decision.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Scheiffer for comment. He responded immediately.