Business View Magazine | May 2019

119 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MAY 2019 Today, the Allen County Airport is owned by the Allen County Regional Airport Authority, which also operates the FBO, contributes some funding for the Airport’s operational budget, and pays for its two full-time, and one part-time, employees. “We do rely on the county for funding, but fuel sales and hangar rent are also key,” Tattrie explains. “There have been years, out here, that have been really hard. In 2008, the County didn’t give the Airport any money for operations; hangar tenants had to volunteer to keep the Airport up and running. About a year later, 2009-10, the County appropriated funds and they hired a manager at the time, who was the only employee, to do everything. That lasted for about a year. In 2011, funding increased, and the Airport has been going up, ever since. We also lease 500 acres of farmland, which helps. The FAA and ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) provide funding for capital improvement projects, which is a huge help. Without that funding, we wouldn’t be able to make any improvements, at all.” Recent projects at the Airport have included a new snow removal equipment building, erected in 2017, the repaving of 5,000 feet of the 6,000- ft. runway 10/28, which is now fully-grooved, and a new beacon tower. “Future projects will be the replacement of runway 10/28 taxiway lighting with LEDs, and in about three years, we’re hoping to sealcoat everything,” Tattrie adds. “We also put together an Airport Improvement Plan, funded by our own funds,” he notes. “We thought that would be a five-to-ten year plan, but we actually completed it in two years. Some items included: 24-hour lobby access for pilots to get into the terminal; we don’t have 24-hour fuel service available, yet, but we’re hoping to get self-service pumps here, in the next couple of years. I was able to add high-speed internet, which took almost two-and-a-half years to acquire. We did a lot of painting and maintenance of the buildings, and we added new furniture. We have a wildlife mitigation plan in effect; we also trap coyotes and fox, deer, etc. And, right now, we’re trying to acquire EPA permits to introduce de-icing operations for this coming winter. We’re working THE ALLEN COUNTY A I RPORT