Schuylkill County to back $350K loan to extend airport’s runway

Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday agreed to back a $350,000 loan to extend the main runway at the county’s Joe Zerbey airport.

The action guarantees payment of the loan, taken by the Schuylkill County Airport Authority, and includes costs, fees and expenses.

The project is expected to cost $2,327,845. The Airport Authority has obtained a $1,627,845 grant through the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Commonwealth Finance Agency.

The grant requires a 30 percent local match. In August 2016, commissioners contributed 15 percent, or $350,000.

The loan provides the remaining 15 percent.

In a related move, commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of six county-owned parcels totaling 746.7 acres to the airport authority for the purpose of extending the length of the main runway, possible future expansion of the runway, and the maintenance and integrity of the airport.

The resolution requires the airport authority to return the land if needed.

The parcels are 4.1 acres, 7.8 acres, 61.7 acres and 431.8 acres in Foster Township and 26.8 acres and 214.5 acres in Barry Township.

The project

“This goes way beyond airplanes. We’re trying to open this up to become an economic gateway into the county,” said airport manager Bill Willard.

Preliminary construction should start within weeks, and will finish by June.

The project updates the runway, which was built in 1959, said Airport Authority solicitor Martin J. Cerullo.

The 10-year, nine-month, 4.51 percent loan is through Mid Penn Bank, he said.

Contracting bids were opened in June, “so everything is ready to go,” Cerullo said.

The airport, about 8 miles northwest of Pottsville, has two runways, the longest of which is asphalt and 75 feet wide and 4,599 feet long. The extension will bring it to 5,100 feet.

The shorter turf runway is 2,270 feet long.

Currently, the runway can accommodate small- to medium-sized corporate aircraft up to 80,000 pounds.

Willard said extending the runway will accommodate larger planes and also improve landing and take off during rainy or icy weather.

Further, he said, it will be a better fit with evolving Federal Aviation Authority and insurance company rules.

There have been planes that have had to land in Reading or Allentown due to the existing runway, and he’s sure there are others whose pilots won’t even attempt to land on anything less than 5,000 feet.

The benefits

“By expanding this, it will give us the ability to go out for additional funding, there are different funding sources available once you have a runway that’s 5,000 feet long,” said Commissioners’ Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr.

That funding could help pay for widening or extending the runway.

Also, he said, “The airport provides a lot of economic development opportunities.”

Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier praised Willard’s role in improving the airport.

“The airport has grown by leaps and bounds since he’s been there,” Staudenmeier said.

He said Frank Zukas, president of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation, recognizes the economic value of the airport.

“We’re probably going to see a lot more traffic come through up there once the expansion takes place,” Staudenmeier said.

“This is a long time coming,” said Commissioner Gary J. Hess.

He said extending the runway was a goal of the Airport Authority since the early 1980s.

“This gives the opportunity to make sure we have Fortune 500 companies up there (in Highridge Business Park), and we want to make sure they stay there and continue to grow here in Schuylkill County,” Hess said.

“This is a big plus for Schuylkill County for us to grow economically,” he said.

Willard appreciates the support of county government in the expansion.

He mentioned a few of the businesses using the airport, Highridge Business Park tenants, Yuengling Brewery, Universal Forest Products, Perryman Company and others.

Easier and more accommodating airport facilities will encourage more business travel to the county, he said.

“Looking at the big picture, it means jobs,” Willard said.