Star Beacon
May 24, 2006 07:45 am
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By DORIS COOK
Staff Writer
dcook@starbeacon.com
DENMARK TOWNSHIP - - A new phase for the Ashtabula County Airport took effect Tuesday with Lakeside Aviation LLC of Erie, Pa., signing on as the new fixed-base operator for the Robert C. Morrison Airfield.
Scott Wilson of Lakeside Aviation and David Price, authority board president, and Larry Branek, authority board vice president, signed the 20-year lease documents as other airport authority members and the county commissioners looked on.
"We are here to celebrate five months of negotiations to get a fixed-base operator (FBO). The airport authority has had a vision of developing a great aviation facility at the Ashtabula County airport. With this agreement, we are now able to realize this vision," Price said.
Lakeside Aviation, with its parent company, Erie Management Group (EMG) LLC, approached the airport authority board a year ago regarding the possibility of taking over the airport's management, Price said. Under the terms of the agreement, Lakeside Aviation will lease the existing facilities and develop new ones.
"We plan to leverage the full potential of the Ashtabula County Airport as a catalyst for regional economic growth," Wilson said. "Erie Management Group has several endeavors. Our interest, in part, goes beyond the airport E also to bring economic growth here."
EMG is a private strategic investor. Its charter is to promote economic expansion and bring employment opportunities to the region. EMG has several business units, one which has an aviation focus. Wilson said Lakeside Aviation intends to use the county airport as an alternative staging site for its growing corporate jet fleet.
The contract includes the option for an additional 10 years if the two parties agree to continue their partnership. The FBO has agreed to pay the Ashtabula County Airport Authority board a fixed monthly fee to lease the facilities.
Lakeside Aviation LLC will contribute to the local match required for Federal Aviation Administration airport development grants, officials said. Price said lease payments will go toward paying down the airport authority's debt obligations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the loans from the county commissioners and prepare the airfield for future development.
Lakeside Aviation can lease additional land at the airport for other commercial developments if and when the economy improves and opportunities permit. The existing facilities, including buildings, parking ramps, taxiways and the runway, occupy less than a third of the 620 acres, which are bordered by Brown and Peterson roads.
Lakeside Aviation officially takes over July 1. As the FBO, it will take over airport fuel sales, hangar rentals, hire any needed personnel and work with the airport board on any new development.
Talks have begun between Wilson and officials of Kent State University's Aeronautics Division, School of Technology, for locating an aviation technology program at the airfield.
Wilson said he was impressed with the support not only from the airport authority board, but also in the county commissioners' interest in attracting economic growth to the region.
"The board of commissioners has always been supportive of the airport board's efforts. This marriage truly brings the airport to the next level," Commissioner Deborah Newcomb said.
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