Airport Operations Supervisor Mark Daugherty requested funding to repair a 40-year-old aircraft “apron” at Tuesday night’s city council meeting for Mansfield.
The 112,000 square-foot apron at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, was declared to be in critical condition and experiencing serious deterioration. The apron, which is the area where the aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, or boarded, is a trip hazard and contains debris that, if sucked in by an aircraft, could result in millions of dollars in damage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declared the apron a “bona fide emergency,” spurring the city council’s decision to appropriate $215,000 for the reconstruction project. The project includes covering the current deteriorated concrete with a fabric and then capping it with asphalt. The fix is projected to last 10-12 years and is compliant with FAA speculations.
Airport Day is taking place at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport on July 6, in addition to the races held at the Mansfield Motorsports Park through the summer. The apron will serve as space for cars to park for these events. Because of its condition, the apron is considered a liability issue by the city council.
The airport project was motioned and seconded to take priority and declared an emergency by the city council.
The city council also discussed bill 13-190. The bill submits the question of adopting an additional one-quarter percent on income taxes that will go towards Mansfield Parks, Recreation, Illumination, Demolition and Emergency services (PRIDE). Within the discussion, the mayor commended the Mansfield Police and Fire departments for their hard work and patience in “fiscal emergency.”
“These people have not had raises in nearly 8 years,” said mayor Tim Theaker. The bill will be up on the ballot to be voted on by the public on November 5, 2013.
For more information on the reconstruction project of the apron, call 419-522-2191.
