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Airport authority continues to work on deficiencies

By Patty Yauger pyauger@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read

DUNBAR TWP. — The Fayette County Airport Authority agreed Wednesday to purchase and install a security gate that, when completed, will aid the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport in its effort to resolve land use deficiencies.

In unanimous action of the members present, the board agreed to purchase the automated gate at a cost of $12,350 from Allegheny Fence of Hazelwood.

When questioned by board member Myrna Giannopoulos about the circulation of requests for bids, airport manager, John “Bud” Neckerauer, said that a local company was contacted, but failed to respond.

“I wish we had gotten someone local,” said Giannopoulos in supporting the action with other members Joseph Maher and Sam Cortis.

Board members Bill Gerke and Philip Holt were absent from the meeting.

Solicitor William Martin said that the installation of the security gate is the last active deficiency to be completed with the remaining issues to be eliminated as funding becomes available.

Over the past year, the authority has abided by an agreement reached with the state Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aviation (BOA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that outlined a timetable for the airport to comply with deficiencies in a 2011 land-use inspection report issued by the FAA.

During the past year, the authority has implemented a lease policy with its tenants, corrected an issue regarding the non-aeronautical use of hangars on the property and reached an agreement with a local farmer using a portion of the airport property.

The remaining issues are tied to the replacement of antiquated hangars at the airport.

“The (authority) is aware of its obligations to not only take the necessary corrective actions in response to the (FAA findings), but also ensure that the airport is in compliance with the standards of the FAA and (BOA),” Martin stated in an earlier letter to the FAA. “The (authority) and airport staff are committed to working with the FAA and BOA on maintaining a safe, productive and functional airport.”

In related action, the authority additionally agreed to purchase a new brush hog mower from Angelo Equipment of Perryopolis at a cost of $12,900.

Both purchases are being funded through a 2012 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant. The $200,000 funding has allowed for the authority to repair a roof on one of its buildings, purchase a used fuel truck and allow for the purchased agreed upon Wednesday.

The members stipulated the purchases would be conditional pending a review of the grant requirements.

In other business, the authority said it had yet to receive any information about a $1 million grant or $1 million contribution that will allow the construction of new hangars at the airport.

Maher said that no action can be taken until confirmation is received that the funding is available to the airport.

Last month, Fayette County Commissioner Al Ambrosini announced that the county was the recipient of a $1 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant and that 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands founder Joseph A. Hardy III had agreed to match the grant amount to allow for the construction of about 40 corporate and smaller T-hangars at the county airport.

“Officially, we have not received anything,” said Maher. “We have only received conjecture and since it is only conjecture, it is not a matter of discussion.”

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