"County to begin doing low-cost improvements to NY airport"

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

County to begin doing low-cost improvements to airport
The Watertown (NY) Daily Times


The Jefferson County Legislature's General Services Committee on Tuesday
agreed to let legislators and staff put together a list of low-cost
improvements that could be made to the terminal at Watertown International
Airport.

Committee members asked that any improvements come to them for approval
before any work is done.

"There's some enhancement we could do over there that wouldn't cost us a lot
of money and go a long way toward improving the appearance and appeal of the
facility," said Legislator Barry M. Ormsby, who is not a member of the
General Services Committee, but does head the board's ad hoc committee on
the airport.

Jefferson County agreed last fall to take over the airport in the town of
Hounsfield and has been paying its expenses since the start of the year, but
the facility is still technically the property of the city of Watertown.

Committee Chairman Philip N. Reed, R-Fishers Landing, Mr. Ormsby and other
legislators are hoping that small aesthetic improvements, such as new paint,
wallpaper and carpeting and some general cleaning can be done as soon as
possible.

Mr. Ormsby said the work needs to be done at some point, so doing it before
the county owns the facility could go a long way toward winning repeat
customers.

"For the net result of changing the perception and basic reputation of that
airport, I think it's a positive step," he said. "We've got to start moving
ahead."

Mr. Ormsby, Mr. Reed and others believe that by improving and marketing the
airport, the county will be able to reduce its burden on the local taxpayer.
The lawmakers said increasing airport use to more than 10,000 passengers per
year would open up about $1 million per year in federal aid for capital
improvements. With its current level of about 5,000 passengers annually, the
federal aid available for improvements is $150,000.

While most supported the concept, some legislators indicated that it may be
more prudent to have a plan of action that can start immediately after the
transfer, but not before.

The committee also asked County Administrator Robert F. Hagemann III to look
into the legalities, especially in regard to federal security restrictions,
of doing improvements before owning the facility and to ask city officials
for their permission to do some work.

During the meeting, Mr. Hagemann also outlined the status of the transfer,
explaining that a final master agreement should be completed in the next 30
days, then go to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval. He also
said that employment offers would be made later this week to the city's
airport employees and they are required to accept or decline within 10 days.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ormsby and his ad hoc committee continue to research ways to
improve the facility. He will meet today with the St. Lawrence Valley Air
Task Force to see how its desire to expand air service may fit in with
Jefferson County's plans. On Friday, he and other county officials will meet
with representatives of Mesa Airlines to discuss the facility's future.


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