Chairman agrees to repair pavement, leaky roof at airport hangars
DUNBAR TWP. – The chairman of the Fayette County Airport Authority reluctantly agreed to find a way to repair pavement and a leaky roof at hangars at the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport Tuesday after two tenants brought their complaints to the board. Although the initial reaction by authority chairman Terry “Tuffy” Shallenberger was “you can’t get blood out of a turnip,” after a discussion on the needed repairs, Shallenberger agreed to find a solution to the problems.
Initially, tenant John Michael told the board he has difficulty getting his airplane in and out of the hangar because of the extensive potholes in front of his rental unit. Michael said he can’t start the engine due to the condition of the pavement and he has problems towing the plane in and out as well.
“I just need a trail paved. I can’t tow it in and out safely,” Michael said. “In other words you are renting me a hangar that I can’t use.”
After looking at pictures of the pavement, Shallenberger told Michael there isn’t any money available to pave the area in front of the hangar. Money to repair the pavement at the airport isn’t slated to become available as a part of the improvement plan until 2010-2011.
“You can’t get blood out of a turnip,” Shallenberger said. “I wish we could repair it.”
Michael, who said he had no plans to get out of his month-to-month lease, left the meeting after saying he would seek legal counsel.
Tenant Terry Kriss then complained he couldn’t use one of the three buildings he rents because of a leaking roof.
“There has to be ways to find money to help tenants,” Kriss said, adding that he pays more than $1,000 a month to the airport.
Kriss said 13 months ago repairs were made to another roof section that have held and several months ago one of his hangar doors was repaired so he could open it.
“I just want doors than open and close and a roof that doesn’t leak,” Kriss said.
Shallenberger said he is frustrated also.
Board member Todd Radolec said possibly if Kriss did the repairs the amount of the repairs could be credited toward rent. However, office manager Milissa Chomiak said she was told by the auditors doing that was not allowed.
Kriss said his is a simple problem that needs fixed.
Kriss then added that Michael was only asking for a 10-foot wide repair of the potholes for access to his hangar.
Board member Mark “Kingfish” Wasler said there should be some benefit to the tenants.
Shallenberger then said he would look into repairing the pavement and roofing, and offered to donate materials if necessary.
During the discussion, ways to generate money for the airport were discussed, including having gas wells drilled and opening the airport up for drag races.
Board member Myrna Giannopoulos said drag races are occurring at the Greene County Airport in Waynesburg and asked if that could occur in Fayette County also.
Kriss said he knows someone who races in Waynesburg and $21,000 can be earned in four hours.
“There are ways to generate money,” Kriss said.
Regarding the drag races, board member Fred Davis said years ago that happened at the airport but there were issues with the Bureau of Aviation.