Asks For $22,000 To Help Cover Debts

Officials for the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Air Expo have gone to the Wood County, WV, commission seeking additional funding to cover debts incurred by the event. Committee co-chair Donna Rusche has asked the commissioners to allocate an additional $22,000.

Rusche told commissioners at a meeting last Thursday that "(t)here were three factors we had no control over, the fuel, the weather and people." The show sold fewer refreshments this year due to the weather, and dropped its parking fee from $15 to $10. The show asked for donations at the gate, but did not charge an admission fee. Show attendees donated about $2,000, according to a report appearing in the Parkersburg, WV, News and Sentinel newspaper.

Rusche told the commissioners that fuel was for shuttle buses that brought visitors in from parking lots in Parkersburg, WV, and Marietta, OH, was more expensive this year, as was insurance. Transportation costs alone went up some $3,000, she said, while the insurance climbed $2,250 because of accidents that had occurred at other air shows. She also said some sponsors pulled out just days before the show, costing the event $15,000.

The county has reportedly already ponied up $17,500 for the event. The county's contribution in 2010 was $25,000. Commission President Blair Couch cited that $25,000 figure as where the body had "maxed out" in past years, and asked for a complete financial report to be reviewed before the commission makes a final decision.

FMI: www.woodcountywv.com