Commissioners allocate COVID relief funds for airport projects, new manager
The Butler County Commissioners allocated nearly $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds for water and sewer line projects at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport, and for hiring a new airport manager.
From state and federal COVID relief money, the commissioners on Wednesday agreed to allocate $253,190 to assist the airport authority with a water line extension project and $230,000 for a sewer line extension project.
Both service lines will be extended to the end of Airport Road to serve prospective airport tenants.
In addition, the commissioners approved committing up to $100,000 a year for up to four years for the recruitment and hiring of a new manager to run the day-to-day operations and development of the airport.
The Butler County Airport Authority announced July 18 the hiring of Michael Biggs, who will begin his new job next month.
A commitment of up to $28,000 a year for up to four years was also approved to help the authority provide medical, dental, vision and life insurance, and short-term disability benefits to existing and prospective employees.
The total amount is $995,190.
Commissioner Kevin Boozel called the allocations for the airport significant, one-time investments.
The new manager will develop plans to make the airport self sustaining, said Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the commissioners.
Commissioner Kim Geyer called the money the largest county investment in the airport that will allow the facility to reach its full potential.
Tenant leases, grants and airplane fuel sales are the airport’s only sources of revenue, she said. Two flight schools, one of which can issue commercial pilot licenses, are among the tenants, she said.
The airport can develop property adjacent to the facility to create a corporate air park, she added.
The commissioners also allocated up to $150,000 in COVID relief money to the Community Development Corporation of Butler County to continue encouraging, promoting and assisting economic growth throughout the county.
Development of Slippery Rock Business Park and the Allegheny Valley Industrial Park, and redevelopment of the AK Steel Plant 2 site in Butler were cited as examples of the CDC’s work.
