DANVILLE -- Among the proposed Danville-Riverside Airport Authority's initial tasks would be to eliminate deer and trees near the landing strip.
"There's deer all over the place," said Montour County Commissioner Chairman Trevor Finn, who with his colleagues Tuesday night approved the idea of a five-member authority replacing the airport commission formed in 1996.
"The pilots are scared they will cross the runway."
Commissioners from Northumberland County, which has co-owned the airport with Montour County since the 1930s, will also hold a public hearing and vote on the formation of the authority, which will be charged with cutting costs and increasing revenue.
"You all have a vested interest in it," Finn told pilots who attended Tuesday's meeting.
"If things are structured right, we should draw more aircraft and have more access to grant money," said Craig Lawler, a pilot. "That should increase its attractive aspect to business."
The number of planes using the airport in Riverside, which has added a paved runway, has doubled in the past five years.
Should Northumberland County commissioners approve the creation of the authority, the board would take control sometime in January, Montour County solicitor Michael Dennehy said.
The five-member authority would have one pilot and one member at large representing the two counties. A fifth appointee to the authority would alternate between counties.
"This doesn't mean a member-at-large can't be a pilot," Finn said.
Pilot Mark Fry questioned the cost of liability insurance for the authority.
The airport's insurance needs to be reviewed, Dennehy said.
"I'm not sure the commission got the best deal," Finn said. "It has had the same insurance company."
The same firm has provided insurance since 1981, said the airport's longtime fixed-base operator, Joe Fox.
Fox would have the same relationship with the authority as he has with the commission, Dennehy said, adding that it was time to redo Fox's contract.
Commissioners should have the trees cut from near the approaches and takeoff areas so the authority isn't overwhelmed, Fry said.
"The authority needs to take the bull by the horns and look at the insurance, get a contract with (Fox), raise more revenues and kill the deer threatening aircraft and cut the trees."
Commissioners Vice Chairman Jack Gerst said he wanted protection for Fox because of his tenure at the airport, then questioned whether the counties would be obligated financially for the airport.
Finn said that Montour County's $2,500 yearly payment to the airport was reasonable and likely to continue.
Both boards of commissioners would make economic development funds a priority to the airport until it grew large enough to develop revenue, Dennehy said.
Tom Greavy of Riverside asked about the debt of the airport --$15,000 for a hangar and $10,000 for a roof. The hangar debt was in the names of the two counties, Dennehy said.
The commission has been paying on the interest and not on the principal of the loans, Fox said.
"It's ridiculous," Finn said.
Greavy asked if the authority would inherit commission director and treasurer Eris Bunnell.
Finn suggested that if her position of $250 a month is eliminated, the debt could be paid off more quickly.
n E-mail comments to kblackledge@dailyitem.com
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