By Karen Blackledge
The Danville News
December 03, 2008 05:52 am
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DANVILLE -- Before the Montour County commissioners approved a new joint airport authority for the Danville-Riverside Airport, pilots questioned them about liability insurance, debt and trees and deer at the airport.
The commissioners said they wanted the authority to try to cut costs and run the airport more efficiently. "You all have a vested interest in it," Commissioners Chairman Trevor Finn told the group of five pilots Tuesday night.
"If things are structured right, we should draw more aircraft and have more access to grant money. That should increase its attractive aspect to business," pilot Craig Lawler said.
The airport, owned by Northumberland and Montour counties since the 1930s, has doubled the number of planes the past five years and added a paved runway.
Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed authority and approved the resolution. The new authority will replace the airport commission formed in 1996.
Northumberland County commissioners will hold a similar hearing and vote on the resolution. The pilots said they will attend the hearing.
Montour County solicitor Michael Dennehy said the authority is expected take control sometime in January.
Commissioners approved a five-man authority. A pilot and a member-at-large will be selected from each county and a fifth appointee will alternate between counties. Commissioner Jerry Ward said someone with an accounting background could be a good appointee. Finn added: "This doesn't mean a member-at-large can't be a pilot."
Gerst said members of the authority need to understand the airport.
Denny Stahl of Danville asked if authority members would have to live in either county. Dennehy said he didn't think this type of authority would require that, but said he would double check it.
Pilot Mark Fry questioned the cost of liability insurance for authority members. Dennehy said the insurance needs to be reviewed. "I'm not sure the commission got the best deal. It has had the same insurance company," Finn said.
The airport's longtime fixed base operator, Joe Fox, said the same company has provided the insurance since 1981.
Commissioners Vice Chairman Jack Gerst said he wanted some protection for Fox because of his tenure at the airport. Gerst questioned whether the counties would be obligated financially for the airport.
With Montour County paying $2,500 a year to the airport, Finn said it was reasonable the pilots could expect that to continue. Dennehy said both boards of commissioners would make economic development funds a priority to the airport until it grew large enough to develop some revenue.
Dennehy also aid Fox would have the same relationship with the authority he has with the commission, adding it's time to redo Fox's contract.
Deer and tree problems
Fry suggested the commissioners have trees cut from the approaches and takeoff areas so the authority isn't overwhelmed. Finn replied, "The authority needs to take the bull by the horns and look at the insurance, get a contract with Joe, raise more revenues and kill the deer threatening aircraft and cut the trees."
Kimball engineer Rick Holes is supposed to be working with Dennehy on a property easement to handle the tree situation, according to Fry. Deer are another problem.
"There's deer all over the place," Finn said. "The pilots are scared they will cross the runway."
The commission was hoping to obtain a special permit with the game commission to kill the deer.
Other airports utilize the permit to regulate the deer population.
Finn considers the deer in Riverside a "menace and a hazard. But the local game warden won't do it."
Commissioners assured the group they would help them.
Airport debt
Tom Greavy of Riverside asked about the debt of the airport, which is $15,000 for a hangar and $10,000 for a roof. Dennehy said the hangar debt was in the names of the two counties.
Fox said the commission has been paying on the interest and not on the principal of the loans. "It's ridiculous that they are paying interest and not on the principal," Finn said.
Greavy asked if the authority would inherit commission director and treasurer Eris Bunnell. Finn suggested that if her position of $250 a month is eliminated, the debt could be paid off more quickly.
E-mail comments to kblackledge@thedanvillenews.com.
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