By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Airport Authority met on Monday, July 20, with board members David Newcomer, Aaron Herman, Burton Blalock, Charles Traxler, Kirk Vashaw, and Scott Wyse present. Also, Steve Fortner, Brent Wilson, and Steve Potoczak were present.
Following the approval of the July 13 special meeting minutes and the financial report, the board recommended naming Brian Davis to serve as board member.
Davis is a former Williams County Commissioner and current Bryan Board of Public Affairs member selected to fill an opening on the board.
“They (Commissioners) have to make the appointment and we don’t,” said Newcomer. “We are recommending him (Davis).”
According to the Ohio Revised Code, it specifically sets up regional airport authorities and their scope on what they can and cannot do. They provide a board of seven that is appointed by the commissioners.
Newcomer requested that board members start thinking about his eventual replacement on the board.
Discussion continued regarding an idea suggested by Commissioner Terry Rummel of county engineer Todd Roth to take over airport operations.
“It’s very unusual for a county engineer to manage the airport,” said Newcomer, who also serves as chairman of the airport authority. “It’s also unusual for a county engineer to do engineering where they have to have engineer stamps on drawings.”
Newcomer said the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), unless they have certain qualifications, will not accept the stamps.
“The engineer we hire is specialized in the FAA,” Newcomer pointed out. “It does not make sense, and we don’t like that idea at all.”
He already knew that Roth had plenty on his plate as a county engineer, but noted the board doesn’t fully appreciate the complexities involved in keeping the airport in good standing with the FAA in order to continue receiving funding.
It was decided at the July 13 special meeting that the board desired to remain in place and retain responsibility for management at the airport.
In other board action:
-Consider skydiving contract. The board wants Steve Fortner to pursue negotiations, but the agreement should include a fee. He is to provide the county prosecutor’s office with a draft as basis for the agreement.
-Discussed changing meeting schedule to quarterly meetings. Steve Potoczak observed that most airport boards meet monthly to keep up with the information flow and decisions needed for the FAA.
