Town Council/airport

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Every year, the Port Elgin airport of Saugeen Shores comes to Council asking for enough money to keep it going.

Kevin Yaraskavitch of the Airport Committee, came before Council to propose a $4,000 increase to the grant paid by the Town for managing the airport.

In 2010, the Airport received an operating grant of $15,500 down from the  2008 amount of $19,500.  "The previous [$19,500] amount allowed us to put a small reserve away for a new building and it's only through the work of our volunteers that allows that to happen.  Since we were cut back to $15,500 however, we have been unable to do that."

Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau wanted to know exactly what the building in question was for.  "We have equipment such as lawn mowers and a small tractor," explained Yaraskavitch, "that have been left outside.  The town provides maintenance on these, and the town maintenance has recommended that they be kept in out of the weather.  That's what the proposed building is for."

Councilor Thead Seaman questioned the issue of fuel costs.  "Help me understand this," he asked of Yaraskavitch.  "It will cost $18,500 this year to buy fuel and we will sell it for $17,050 ... are we selling it too cheap?"

"It depends on how much we buy and how much we sell,"  Yaraskavitch said. "We fill the tanks in the fall so that we are ready for spring and we never know what the price is going to be.  We sell it [fuel] at the same price as every other small airport and, if we raise the price, we won't get the traffic and we are trying to raise the profile of the airport so that more people visit."

Electrical repairs were also incurred in 2010 due to coyotes destroying lighting that has to also be repaired/replaced.

"I do not support this grant request," said Councilor Diane Huber.  "I appreciate the value but don't see why all taxpayers should be involved.  They [airport committee] have a reserve but don't appear to have used it. Last year, I questioned the number of tie-downs and they were not even close to the numbers in the harbour."

Mayor Mike Smith explained that the grant money in reserve was actually a grant from 1996/97 and "... has been sitting there."

Vice Deputy Mayor, Doug Gowanlock, said that grant money is still there and had been earmarked for building.  "If it weren't for all the volunteers," Gowanlock pointed out, "the airport would not function."

Charbonneau also added that council recognized the value of volunteer hours.  "This budget request is considerably lower than what we would have to pay for the work that is done."

The matter will come before council at its budget meeting on March 14.

 

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Thursday, February 17, 2011