Legal action by city officials on facility’s name change uncertain
CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville Mayor Judy Reed declined this week to confirm if legal action will be taken against the Fayette County Airport Authority for revising the airport’s name, but she did not rule out that possibility. “We’re not closing the book on this just yet,” said Reed when questioned by City Council members about a second resolution in as many months to reaffirm the name of the airport in Dunbar Township as the Connellsville Airport at the recent council meeting. “This resolution does not specifically say there will be a lawsuit filed against the airport authority.
“What I think we need to do is take a look as to how this 1936 document is being interpreted (by the authority).”
The airport name debate began in January when the authority met in special session and voted to change it to the Joseph A. Hardy Regional Airport in recognition of Hardy on his 84th birthday. Hardy is the founder of 84 Lumber Co. and the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa, a Fayette County commissioner and airport benefactor.
After meeting with Connellsville officials, local historians and others in February, the authority board of directors took action to revise the name to include Connellsville, but not return it to the original name designated in a 1936 agreement between the city and Fayette County commissioners and requested by those in attendance.
In 1936, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) agreed to grant $500,000 to the county to develop and construct a Municipal Airdrome and Aviation Landing Field in the county. However, the agreement was contingent upon the purchase of property for the airport that would be the financial responsibility of the county.
According to the document, Connellsville agreed to partner with the county and obtain the 214-acre tract of land located in Dunbar and North Union Township with the city paying 25 percent of the $15,000 cost and the county defraying the remaining amount.
The agreement established a financial arrangement whereby the county would share operational and maintenance costs and the city, as overseer of the airport, would then reimburse the county through net profits.
The airport name also was established in the 1936 document as the Connellsville Airport, with the document signers stating that name would stand in the event of a sale.
Reed and others have maintained that the authority is required to comply with the 70-year-old agreement, but airport solicitor, attorney Mark Rowan has stated the first document was not properly recorded nor was the name covenant mentioned in a 1966 sale agreement that transferred the property to the county for $50,000.
During the March 8 council meeting, Councilman David McIntire indicated that a “grassroots” coalition is forming, but declined to elaborate the mission of the membership. He did state that Uniontown representatives “were anxious” to assist Connellsville in its efforts.
“Whatever we do, we have to make haste because after the signs go up, it will be more difficult,” he said.
Jesse Wallace, airport authority chairman, said Friday that signage changes have not taken place, but authority board member Terry Shallenberger has agreed to defray any costs tied to the signs.
Wallace also acknowledged that airport personnel are answering telephones and referring to the facility as the Joseph A. Hardy – Connellsville Airport.
Rowan, too, said that the authority is taking the appropriate steps to notify federal and state regulators.
“We have a consultant on board that has gone through all of this before, so I don’t think there will be any problem,” said Rowan.
Reed, meanwhile indicated that the authority is required to adhere to the terms established in the 1936 document and not to do so is “wrong.”
“This is not only a legal issue, but also a moral and ethical issue,” she said.