Board asks for loan from USDA

The Jamestown Regional Airport Authority authorized an application to the United States Department of Agriculture for a loan for the proposed airport terminal project Wednesday.

The request will be made for a $425,000 loan with the possibility of either a 20- or 30-year term at 4 percent interest. The loan includes refinancing a current debt of approximately $75,000 on a previous runway project.

“We’ll have another decision point on this in the future,” said Jim Boyd, board member. “Up until the time we accept bids we have no risk in the project.”

The action during the board’s regular January meeting followed a request by Board Member Jim Dodd to table the project for one year.

“This plan locks us into the terminal as our only project for five or six or more years,” he said. “I’m in favor of sitting on this for a year.”

The motion to proceed with the loan application and, if the loan is approved, advertising this year for construction bids passed 4-to-1 with Dodd dissenting and Dennis Nelson, Johnny Klingenberg, Craig Neys and Boyd in favor.

The board convened under the same organization as in 2009 and did not hold its election of officers. The board term of Klingenberg, the chairman of the board, ended at the end of 2009.

“I spoke with the mayor this afternoon and she emphatically informed me she will not make any more appointments to any of the boards,” he said. “In talking with the city attorney I was informed the current position holders would stay in place until a new member is put in place.”

With no dissent from any board members, Klingenberg continued as not only a board member but the presiding officer. He directed newly hired Airport Authority Attorney Leo Ryan to research how the airport’s bylaws addressed the issue. Dependent on those results an election of officers will be held at the February meeting or, if necessary, during a special meeting yet this month.

Discussion grew contentious concerning a request made by Nelson to allow the Civil Air Patrol to use space in the Airport Rescue and Fire building for training this weekend. His request had been denied by Andrew Schneider, airport manager. Nelson then appealed to the full board.

“I want the board to respect my decision to keep others out of the ARF area,” Schneider said. “I don’t want others in that space when ARF personnel are working.”

The motion to override Schneider’s decision failed on a 3-to-2 vote with Dodd and Nelson in favor of allowing the usage of the space by the CAP.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at (701) 952-8452

or by e-mail at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, airport, jamestown, regional, loan, usda