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WINTERSVILLE -- The Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority expressed its approval of the details around a proposed oil and gas pipeline deal on the airport's property, during the board of directors' meeting Monday.
The board recommended the Jefferson County commissioners, the airport property's owner, proceed with the deal's plan with MarkWest Energy Partners. Board members confirmed that the pipeline would occupy approximately 2,092 square feet and lead to a payout of about $156,000 for the airport from MarkWest.
Board President Brandon Reese said, "We reviewed the changes to (the plan) and everything that we can recognize as a change has been done in our favor, and our recommendation stands that the commissioners enter into this arrangement."
In exchange for the large sum, Reese said, the airport authority will pay for legal fees incurred by MarkWest for submitting plans for legal review.
A simultaneous agreement, separate from the airport's deal, is being organized between MarkWest and the Jefferson Kiwanis Youth Soccer Club, as the pipeline's implementation requires an access road that would bisect the club's Teramana Field. Commissioner Tony Morelli, who attended the board meeting, said MarkWest had committed to a donation to help fix the club's road and parking lot in exchange for the access road's use.
"It's a win-win," Morelli said, adding later that details have not yet been finalized for the Kiwanis agreement.
Separately, the board approved two expense-related motions for airport manager Brian Thaxton, the first being an electric ground power unit, used to charge jets' aviation electronics. Purchase of an $18,465 GPU came after deliberations last month, during which the board decided on an electric system rather than a diesel one.
Another $1,200 for the purchase was approved by the board to purchase a wagon used to transport the GPU. Thaxton said the wagon had appeared to be included in the original total, but the manufacturer informed him otherwise. Thaxton was then able to negotiate the wagon's price down by about $2,300 to the current total.
Thaxton said the manufacturer claimed the GPU's batteries have a life of between five and six years and cost $10,000 to replace. Reese said the lifetime will be much shorter in reality and asked the board to be prepared to eventually pay the upkeep costs.
The next motion approved was for an overhead propane heating system in the airport's maintenance building, not to exceed $9,500. The airport authority received three bids for the system's installation, which Reese said will bolster the airport's maintenance projects by helping airport employees do their work in better conditions.
Board member Geary Bates successfully requested that another $1,000 be added, making the $9,500 maximum. Bates said this was so the airport can utilize products from the trusted brand Solaronics.
In other business:
• The board approved sending a letter of support for Steubenville City Schools' Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program application for its aviation program.
• Lance Wanamaker of Michael Baker International, the airport authority's consultant, reported that the Ohio Department of Transportation's aviation program, once cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration, has permitted the airport to remove its segmented circle.
A segmented circle is a marked, concrete indicator meant to help pilots visually identify the location of a wind cone, or wind indicator, from the air. Reese said receiving permission to remove the segmented circle is a step toward ultimately moving the airport's wind cone's current location.
• Thaxton said he received an invoice for an aircraft flat tire dolly, as purchasing of the $5,845 piece of equipment progresses.
• The board entered executive session for possible real estate transaction but took no action afterward.
• Members of the airport community partook in fellowship and food during a Christmas party after the board meeting.