Audit shows Fayette County Airport Authority complying with regulations
DUNBAR TWP. — An audit prepared for the Fayette County Airport Authority indicates that the panel and the administrative personnel who are operating the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport in compliance with financial regulations.
The 2013 financial review, completed by McClure and Wolfe of Uniontown, was presented to the board on Wednesday by Clayton E. Gregg, a partner of the firm.
According to the report, the authority has about $280,200 in restricted funds for future capital projects and $42,500 for spending on future operational costs.
Gregg said that operating revenues remained nearly the same in 2013 as in 2012, in the amount of $512,000. Operating expenses increased $66,139, as compared to 2012, as a result of an increase in salaries and depreciation.
He commended the board for resolving past findings and noted that its financial position – while improving – will keep it from addressing the need for a second person to help with financial matters.
Guidelines recommend that one person handle revenues and another expenses, said Gregg.
“Due to budget restraints, it is not cost effective for the authority to hire additional office staff to allow for an appropriate segregation of duties,” he said.
The lack of segregation of duties creates a significant deficiency in the control environment which may not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect and correct misstatements on a timely basis, he added.
The report recommended that board members take a more active role in the day-to-day operations to ensure accuracy.
The board unanimously approved the report.
County Commissioner Al Ambrosini, a pilot and airport tenant, said he was pleased with the report and with the management of the airport over the past two years.
“In the last 24 months, there has been a change in the complexion of the board members,” he said. “It has reflected very nicely on the advancement of this airport.
Ambrosini said that deficiencies listed in a “scathing” Federal Aviation Agency Administration report (FAA) received three years ago, have been resolved, opening the door for the airport to again receive federal grant money for needed improvements.
“As a result of all of your efforts, the airport has an extremely bright future,” he said, noting a $2 million hangar project that is awaiting the finalization of paperwork to begin. “(The project) will not only create additional revenue for the airport, but provide more services for corporate aircraft landing at the airport.”
Pointing to the opening of Rural King within the Laurel Mall complex, Ambrosini said that the airport location played a key role as the company executives traveled to Fayette County to negotiate the property purchase, remodel the location, hire its employees and open the store.
“The airplanes that come into this airport come with people and they are known as decision-makers that can create jobs and improve the economy,” he said.
“I congratulate you for your progress.”
In other action, the board also conducted the following business:
n Agreed to a 50-cent per hour increase for three employees – Shana Kallock, office manager and Rick Vorrasi and Wayne Morris, linemen/maintenance workers, effective immediately. Also, those employees remaining with the airport through Dec. 16, 2015, will receive a $1,000 bonus.
n Congratulated board member Myrna Giannopolous for her years of service on the panel. Her current term ends Dec. 31.