UPDATE: Government to Airport Owner: It's Not Our Problem

Marlborough Airport Properties, Inc. filed a suit in U.S. District Court, Worcester, on Tuesday against the Federal government, specifically the Secret Service, saying that President Obama's visit to Marlborough on April 1, 2010 caused nearly $700,000 in damages to the facility's grounds. 

"The lawsuit was their idea," said Robert Stetson, owner and manager of from his office Wednesday morning. "I have tried to resolve this informally, but all attempts have been met with 'It's not my fault.' Responsibility has been denied throughout and my most recent correspondence with the Secret Service on May 28 of this year said if I were going to take the matter any further, I needed to file suit in Federal court."

Stetson said that as the crowds cheered the arrival of the president, he knew, from some distance away, that the many vehicles in the president's entourage were likely causing serious damage to his property.

"The damages were caused by the ground vehicles that were under the direction of the Secret Service," said Stetson. "There were extenuating circumstances because of the wet weather that spring."

Within days of the event, Stetson said that he had requested a report from a State aeronautical inspector.

"I got copies of his report and starting filing claims for remediation immediately," he said. "With respect to the White House, I contacted the Navy's Judge Advocate General and it was determined that it was a Secret Service issue, because it was an issue with the ground vehicles and not the helicopter."

The suit is seeking $676,048 for damages to the tarmac and surrounding grounds.

A Boston Business Journal article went viral Tuesday evening when the Drudge Report posted the link on its home page, bringing some national attention to the city of Marlborough. 

The Boston Herald contacted the Secret Service who declined to comment.

“It’s pending litigation so we won’t talk about it,” said Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan, according to the Boston Herald. 

Obama's trip was made so he could visit the Massachusetts Emergency Management bunker in Framingham after a period of serious spring flooding.

Despite the damage to his property, Stetson says the greatest inconvenience has been the time he has had to invest in order to recoupe the funds.

The photographs accompanying this article were taken by a Marlborough Patch contributor on the day of the president's arrival. 

Check back with Marlborough Patch for updates as this story develops. 

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