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WINTERSVILLE -- March was a record month for the Geary A. Bates Jefferson County Airpark. Airpark manager Brian Thaxton told the Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority board during Monday’s meeting that the airpark handled 560 operations during the month, which was higher than anticipated for this early in the year, and sold some 8,245 gallons of jet fuel.
That total, he said, was a record for the facility.
"March was a pretty big month for us," Thaxton said, citing improved weather conditions.
Later in the meeting, the board voted to give Thaxton a 4 percent pay raise. That vote will send a recommendation to the Jefferson County commissioners, who oversee the employment of airpark staff, for consideration.
The vote came on the recommendation of Brandon Reese, board president, who said he recently met with Thaxton for a performance evaluation.
"You meet expectations in every arena and you exceed expectations," Reese said to Thaxton. "We look forward to continuing a good relationship."
Thaxton also said the waiting list for the new hangars being constructed at the airpark is now up to six, which would fill the vacancies once completed.
During a lengthy discussion with Lance Wanamaker of Michael Baker International, the airpark's engineering consultant, it was decided that the board would approve a 21 percent local share match portion on a grant application through the Ohio Department of Transportation.
It was noted by Wanamaker and his colleague, Kevin Sigg, that increasing the match portion would give the airpark a better chance of being awarded the grant, which is for projects totaling more than $500,000.
Geary Bates and Rich Stenzel, board members who serve on the building committee, recommended one contract and asked for permission to award another from a narrowed list of two upon clarifying bid details.
Approved was a contract for $99,930 for a concrete floor. The contract pending is for blacktopping work for around $46,600.
A contract for $35,800 for electrical work was also recommended and approved.
A tenant of one the of airpark's hangar's participated in the meeting to recommend putting a sign on one of the gates requesting for those using it to close it upon leaving, which he said has not been happening.
A recommendation for board member Geno Morelli to be re-appointed for another term on the board was approved to be sent to the commissioners. His current term ends in June.
The board also approved a recommendation to increase the pay of Shanna Franke to go to the commissioners.
It was noted that a seasonal position that is currently being advertised has currently not received any applicants.