The Greenbrier County Airport Authority celebrated a strong financial position and ongoing projects during its Tuesday, August 17, meeting.
According to Martha Livesay, the airport’s chief financial officer, the airport’s income draws a sharp contrast with this time last year.
“We have a net income of $74,655.28 – for the same period of last year, with the pandemic going on, we had a loss of $6,400, so we’re doing a lot better,” said Livesay. “Our main source, as always, is our Jet A [fuel] sales. We had sales of $326,103. … Our other sources of income were landing and ramp fees and our hangar rents. I think that an income of $74,655.28[means] we’re doing well. We’re very financially sound.”
Not only is income up, Livesay explained, but expenses are down as a result of the CARES Act funding received from the federal government.
“As far as expenses, our [highest] is payroll and benefits, [totaling] $84,217.36. That is covered by the CARES Act, but it’s in the budget because we … are not always going to have the CARES grant [funds]. … We should be good for at least another 24 months on payroll [with the CARES Act funding].”
As a result, the airport has a strong financial future for the foreseeable future.
“That has enabled us to put quite a bit of money in savings. Since I’ve been here, for six years, we’ve never been able to do that. I’m pretty happy about that.”
Jon McCalmont of Parrish and Partners and Airport Director Brian Belcher brought several airport project updates, including:
– The years-long environmental study of the airport could close next month after it finally entered the public review portion with the Federal Aviation Administration.
– The new beacon has been placed on the airport’s tower, but has not yet been turned on. The contractor is expected to finalize electrical work on the light fixure after the State Fair of West Virginia has passed. McCalmont noted that the new beacon might look different from far enough away, but because of the high angle its pointed, it likely won’t look brighter from on the ground nearby. The airport is expected to keep the old beacon and could display it on the property in the future.
– A design for the airport’s new entrance sign on Route 219 was celebrated by the Airport Authority. No official action was needed at the time, but the design was projected for everyone to see. The sign will also be moved farther back on airport property.
Airport Director Brian Belcher explains the Greenbrier Valley Airport’s new Route 219 sign, displayed on screen. |
– Belcher noted the Mi Tequila Mexican Restaurant opened in the airport and invited the public to give it a try.
– Belcher explained that the airport’s security would be upgraded with incoming new scanning equipment from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
McCalmont also noted a new possible project – a $38 million dollar project elevating the airport’s runway could be possible as a result of American Rescue Plan funds.
“There is a modification of standard in place for the runway,” McCalmont explained. “You are supposed to have line of sight from the runway to the half way point and five feet off at either point. You should be able to see that … and you can’t because of the hump in the north end. [FAA] said ‘how much to fix it?’ What that means is you’re raising the north end of the runway 12 feet and then rebuilding the north end of the airport, the full safety area, all the way to the end. Let’s just say it’s expensive. … $38 million, so far. … Two years ago [they] said no way, no how.”
While the project is not certain, the FAA is looking for “big” projects to use the rescue plan funds on. Across West Virginia’s other airports, there are approximately $350 million in requested projects.
Should the project come to pass, it could stop travel to and from the Greenbrier Valley by air for some time.
“It’s a big thing. That’s the other downside. You could work on a runway in sections but a project of that magnitude would close the runway. In a sense, [it] would close the airport for a period of time. … For that amount of work [the airport could be shut down for] a month. That’s if you get multiple contractors and multiple teams and [the work] never stops. You would not find anyone to do it right now, the entire construction environment would have to change to even have that be feasible.”
No final decisions were made on the possible project, with McCalmont saying “I really think it’s going to move forward with fixing that because a line of sight modification of standard isn’t super critical. We’re going to go forward with four or five options.”
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.