RENOVATIONS – Renovation of the STAT MedEvac building at the Geary A. Bates Jefferson County Airpark was one of the topics discussed Monday at a special meeting of the Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority. – Christopher Dacanay
WINTERSVILLE – During a special meeting Monday, the Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority completed three pieces of business from last week, including approving a bid to renovate the STAT MedEvac building.
After debating project scope and contractor preferences at the Aug. 12 meeting, the board this time voted unanimously to accept a bid from Creegan’s Windows Plus in Wintersville for $24,196. Creegan’s bid was the lower of the two bids considered, the other being a $29,000 bid from local contractor Gary Dellapenna.
Points of contention included the style of certain windows and the material of the cladding. Board member Rich Stenzel, who submitted Creegan’s proposal, favored casement windows that open with a crank and provide a clear passage for one person in an emergency.
Stenzel pointed out that the International Building Code requires that a window must have a clear opening of at least 5 square meters if it is part of a designated sleeping area on the ground floor. Therefore, casement windows are necessary to comply with building codes and avoid liability in the event of an accident, he said.
Board member Geary Bates, who provided the quote from Dellapenna, argued in favor of sliding windows, pointing out that STAT’s helicopters would kick up dust that could block a casement window’s cranking mechanisms. In addition, he claimed that Jefferson County 911 Director Rob Herrington was unfamiliar with the minimum clear opening rule.
The two also disagreed on the materials for the exterior cladding. Bates preferred metal to match the airport’s other buildings. Stenzel, who suggested vinyl, said metal could rust, while Bates said vinyl could crack.
Finally, board member Geno Morelli made a motion to accept the lowest offer, that of Creegan, and the board passed that motion.
The board also discussed repairs to the hangar door at 72 Airpark Drive.
A previous inspection of the hangar door revealed that both hydraulic cylinders were defective, the inspector said. However, Bates noted that “highly unusual” that both cylinders would break at the same time, and board vice president Dustin Van Fossen said the worker’s proposed solution might be more than necessary.
The board decided that Bates, Morelli and former board member Mike Menzel should inspect the door again on Wednesday to see what needs to be done.
Regardless of what happens to the door, board chairman Brandon Reese said, the board should maintain a relationship with the person who inspected it, as airport manager Brian Thaxton had requested. Van Fossen agreed, noting that if the re-inspection actually finds a fault with both cylinders, the board will revert to the originally proposed solution.
The Board of Directors also confirmed that certain Board members would waive any special usage fees at the airport.
Since 2014, the board has imposed a special use fee that can be charged to all pilots with aircraft at the airport. Reese said the fee – which is only charged when the airport has a significant number of empty T-hangars – serves as an incentive for individuals to take out leases and fill the empty hangars rather than subletting them from other T-hangar tenants.
Reese noted that the airport has never had a problem staffing T-hangars. Currently, the airport has two empty T-hangars out of a total of 32.
Bates noted that the purpose of the fee is to raise revenue for airport improvements since there are no other funds available from the county to finance those improvements.
Since 2014, airport users have had to pay the fee unless they are granted an exemption. The same applies to board members who are also airport users and must formally request an exemption.
Bates said attorney Shawn Blake recommended that board members, who are also airport users, formally request a fee waiver.
Four members of the board are required to hold pilot licenses, and the three active pilots with aircraft ownership are Reese, Van Fossen and Stenzel. Each of the three has an aircraft housed in the airport’s B Complex or in multi-purpose hangars where they have individual agreements with the respective lessees.
Although all three believe the waiver is unnecessary, Reese said, they think it’s easiest to put the waiver on the record along with information about their relationship as airport users. The three recused themselves from deliberations and abstained from voting in favor of an annual motion to eliminate executive fees.
The motion states: “(The Airport Authority) views the use and interest of member airports as a strength and must not be misconstrued otherwise. To that end, this request for disclosure is being made and re-recorded so that it can never be claimed that the use of member airports was concealed and not subject to public scrutiny.”
