MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Members of the Monongalia County Commission hope to have more input into the developments at the Morgantown Municipal Airport.
The commission met with all seven members of the Morgantown City Council along with Morgantown Airport Director Jonathan Vrabel as part of a special meeting hosted by the council on Tuesday, where Commissioner Tom Bloom called for the establishment of a multi-entity development authority for the airport. The call comes after a presentation by Vrabel regarding the status of the Morgantown Airport Runway Extension project, which he stated is currently ongoing through Phase 5 despite a steady increase in construction costs.
“Having been on city council before and going through FBOs (fixed-based operators), basically the city really doesn’t have the money to run it, we’ve never had the money to run it,” said Bloom on the need for a development authority for the airport. “I think with an authority making larger decisions, I believe that is the way we can grow the airport.”
For Bloom in particular, the call for a Morgantown Municipal Airport Authority stems from a combination of the commission’s desire to increase their involvement in airport development as well as previous experiences regarding funding to support large-scale projects. After what was felt by the commission to be a lack of funds needed to support airport development as a whole (the now approximately $63 million price tag for the Runway Extension Project after starting at around $45 million was considered a catalyst), the call for some level of development or operating authority was considered at least something that should be brought to the table. While Commissioner Sikora referenced an operating authority agreement for the airport itself, there was a general consensus that something similarly established at the North Central West Virginia Airport is needed in Morgantown.
“We have an interest in it (the airport), of course, we have an interest in growing the community, and by doing a larger airport and having an airport authority that can help run it, I think it brings both perspectives in from the county and the city level,” said Commission President Jeff Arnett. “I think that’s why it’s vitally important to have that kind of input.”
After the discussions with the council and the commission, Vrabel stated that the potential establishment of an airport authority is not necessarily in the best interests of the airport, particularly with Federal Aviation Administration funding playing a major role in the Runway Extension Project. Despite that, he openly supported some level of involvement from the county regarding development around the airport, especially as the more visible aspects of the projects begin to materialize. Particularly with the Airport Commerce Park expected to begin development once Phase 6 of the project is completed.
“A recommendation of at least having some type of agreement so that they can be a part of what we do, I think, is reasonable, and I think that’s probably a good decision,” said Vrabel. “I also think that in several years when the airport is fully sustainable on its own, then that’s maybe the time you look at an authority.”
While no formal agreement was made during the special meeting, both airport officials and members of the commission considered the meeting very productive, with an appearance that progress was made to at least have the commission be a part of development conversations. This included an openness by Vrabel to consider endorsing a potential operating authority agreement with city and county commission representation, a proposal first brought up by Commissioner Sean Sikora during the special meeting. With the commission planning to have ongoing discussions with the city council in the near future, they’re optimistic that some agreement will be established as the Morgantown Municipal Airport continues to grow.
“This was very nice, and it is vitally important that we work together with the city and the county,” said Arnett. “I think the relationship is strong and is good, and information sessions like this are important moving forward so that we can keep that relationship going as well.”