Warsaw Airport Looks Into Cleaning Up Grounds
By Maggie Kenworthy
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — During the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioners meeting held Tuesday, May 11, the board discussed cleaning up the grounds via removal of outside vehicle storage and upkeep up hangars.
Airport Manager Nick King showed a series of photographs to the board where the areas around the hangars are being used to store vehicles such as RVs, campers, tractors and even semi-trailers. A couple of years ago, the airport worked with the FFA to do a land-use audit and create a new land-use lease, which is now in effect.
“With the new lease in place a few months ago, we need to start moving on cleaning up some of the airfields,” said King. “We can’t use this [space] for aviation use, but we also shouldn’t be storing on it and not being compensated for it either.”
King also displayed photographs of several privately owned hangars that are in need of upkeep in the form of painting and maintenance.
The idea is that airport employees can begin a discussion with these hangar owners. It was discussed that the owners could be asked to remove the vehicles this summer and come up with an upkeep plan for the hangars.
“We need to at least have a plan in place so that they know what is expected from the airport and they can start planning and budgeting,” said King.
In addition to that discussion, King also brought up the idea of creating a fenced-in area for outside RV storage on the airport property. This would be a way for the airport to generate some additional revenue while giving these hangar owners a place to relocate their vehicles.
“Do we want to be in that business?” asked Board President Jay Rigdon. “That doesn’t support our mission at all.”
Other board members stated that since some of the vehicles have sat at the airport for decades, this storage would offer a needed solution.
King stated that he would continue to look at the possibility of outside storage and discuss it with the city planner before moving forward with a decision.
The next board meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 8.
In other news, the board approved:
- A pay request to Robinson Construction for the Zimmer Biomet hangar door project in the amount of $60,629.40.
- A contract with Tumbleweed Vegetation Management, Leesburg, for weed control on the perimeter fence line for $3,120. This spraying is done annually.