Land Purchase Approved, Facility Fees Researched
A purchase and sale agreement with Ceres Farms LLC and the Warsaw Municipal Airport was approved by the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners Tuesday evening, pending the engineers approval.
The board is purchasing 81.93 plus acres located, east of CR 100E and adjacent to property owned by the airport. The purchase price is a reported cost of $615,000. Approval will also be required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Nick King, airport manager, provided an update on the guidance sign installations. Due to a manufacturing change in sign dimensions, an alternative plan is being developed to install the remaining signs. Signs on the north/south taxi way have been completed. Signs on the east/west runway and the distance sign will be installed once the dimension issue is resolved.
A committee was formed to investigate establishing a facility fee. This fee would be charged for those entities flying in and not purchasing a minimum amount of fuel, but using the amenities provided — courtesy cars, WiFi and lounge. He stated most airports charge a fee: i.e. purchase a minimum of 250 gallons of fuel or pay a $250 facility fee. “It’s uncommon to find one that doesn’t. It will help pay the bills. I’d rather sell the fuel,” stated King.
King also updated the board in providing deicing services/facility. He is working with the city utilities department on permits required, what equipment would need to be purchased, reclamation and a deicing pad. He stated Johnson & Johnson, a major customer, cannot fly into Warsaw under certain winter weather conditions, due to no deicing services and no hanger large enough. The company diverts to Fort Wayne airport in those weather conditions.
During other business, King stated Information is being compiled on a new security system for the airport gates. There have been several instances of vehicles being observed driving in restricted areas creating a potential dangerous situation and damage to aircraft. Client specific key fobs, key pads and security cameras are being looked at.
Two requests by the Warsaw Flying Club, by Jon Fussle, president, were tabled until a full aviation board is present. Fussle, who noted the club was started 11 years ago, admitted he has been a bad neighbor and burned a lot of bridges, but is hoping matters have changed over the past year for the good. “I made so many missteps it baffles me. I want to do right and take steps rectifying the relationships I hurt.”
His request to receive Warsaw Municipal Airport base fuel rate and put WFC signage up on its building and at the airport entrance and terminal were tabled until April. Mayor Joe Thallemer suggested Fussle meet with City Planner Jeremy Skinner on the city’s sign ordinance.
The request to allow participants in a ribbon cutting event on March 26, to park near the hanger, was denied, due to safety/security issues. The board did, however, state a shuttle or escort will be provided from the public parking area to the hanger.
The next meeting of the board will be at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.