Budget Cuts Weighed Against Possible Lawsuits

The Lorain County Regional Airport (LPR) in OH is fighting closure amidst shortfalls in the 2010 county budget. County Administrator Jim Cordes says facility was put on notice to shut down operations.

"The letters went out late last week to shut down the airport," Cordes said during the County Commission meeting. "It's starting to get ugly with the budget."  Cordes noted that several offices inside the airport building could still use that facility without the aircraft operations. 

The county sent letters to the small businesses located at LPR including an aviation insurance company and LifeFlight, the helicopter rescue arm for MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.  The letters talked about the pending closure and asked if tenants would consider paying more to stay.

The loudest concerns have been raised over the $400,000 LPR received over the last three years from the FAA. The money funded construction of three taxiways in addition to other improvements. "There's a lot of concern with what the FAA might have to say about their investment," Commissioner Ted Kalo told the Ohio Chronicle-Telegram.

"It's a fight they can't win," Douglas McConnell noted in the paper.  McConnell works for Johnson Aviation Co., which manages the airport for the county.  McConnell also cited a recent study by the Ohio Department of Aviation that concluded LPR has a $37 million economic impact on the county.  Officials, including Kalo, disagreed with the claim that the airport was generating any substantial revenue.

According to the Ohio DOT, the state felt a $1.7 billion economic impact in 2004 from its 164 public airports.

FMI: www.lcraa.com