City of Medina, Flight Services in negotiations with hospital
MEDINA - The city of Medina may soon have a medical helicopter stationed nearby.
After the Cleveland Clinic made the decision to relocate the one stationed at Medina Hospital, the city and municipal airport started talks with a different hospital to relocate its air services to Medina Municipal Airport in Sharon Township.
While the city of Medina owns the local airport, it is leased to and operated by Flight Services of Medina. Owner Earle Olson has asked the city to help pay for the upgrades needed for the new helicopter base. He made a presentation to Medina City Council Jan. 9 during an executive session to get feedback on the proposal. They gave him the go-ahead to pursue a contract with the unnamed hospital.
Council would need to give its official OK before the relocation could take place. Sharon Township trustees approved the placement of a temporary modular building for the proposed crew quarters at their Nov. 8 meeting.
Water and sewer utilities would need to be installed to service the proposed base, crew quarters and hangars. A concrete pad, which Olson is asking the city pay for, would also need to be added to allow for a jet fuel tank to be installed, at the expense of Flight Services. Right now, the municipal airport isn't equipped to host hospital operations.
"We needed to put all those pieces together and see if council would be willing to do it," said Mayor Dennis Hanwell.
The proposed jet fuel tank would also allow the Cleveland Clinic helicopter to refuel there if needed, as well as open the airport up for usage by small jets. Although Medina Hospital no longer plans to station a helicopter at its facility, it will still have aircraft landing there.
Hanwell said the additions could benefit the city in the long-term by attracting more businesses that might use such services.
Source: http://thepostnewspapers.com
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