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WINTERSVILLE -- The Jefferson County Airport Authority Monday approved a tenant for the vacant building that was formerly the Cross Creek Township Building.
Following an executive session that lasted approximately 20 minutes, a lease contract with Bio-Serv Corp, doing business as Rose Pest Solutions, was approved by the board with all members present voting in favor.
The lease takes effect May 1 and lasts five years through April 30, 2026.
The initial monthly rate, minutes from the meeting provided by the airport authority said, is $1,000.
The airport authority, the minutes said, will immediately start the process to submit a request to the FAA for release of land for non-aeronautical use.
The building, located at 251 Airport Road, had previously been discussed by the board as a potential home for Wintersville county court and Judge Michael C. Bednar. That court presently is located at 30 Talbott Drive.
During its March meeting, the board approved board president Brandon Reese to submit a letter to the Jefferson County Commissioners about the potential court move, to make that board aware of the airport authority's openness to housing the court while noting the authority had other options for the building.
That letter said the court would be "a suitable addition to the county government complex" in addition to the Jefferson County 9-1-1 office and animal shelter. The renovations needed to accommodate the court and make it "similar to Toronto county court" would have cost an estimated $200,000, the letter said, noting there were options for the county and airpark to work together on the cost of renovating the building to accommodate the court.
Commissioner Tony Morelli was present at that meeting and informed the board the county was looking at other options for the courts due to the challenges of the budget.
Upon receipt of the correspondence at the commissioners March 4 meeting, Commissioner Dave Maple and Morelli detailed other options the county could look into to reduce operating expenses of the courts, which were noted continue to rise, such as the potential consolidation of at least two of the three county courts, and said it was too early in the process to give approval or direction to airpark on the matter.
The move for correspondence followed the airport authority, at its February meeting, forming a committee consisting of Reese, board member Geno Morelli and former county Commissioner Tom Gentile to explore the feasibility of the potential renovations to accommodate the court.