Lakeland Airport (KARV) manager to get estimates for terminal roof: Estimates will be presented at annual airport meeting

Over the course of the last year or so, several improvements have been made to the interior of the terminal at the Lakeland Airport.

The improvements, basically a complete remodeling, were privately funded and in the $160,000 range.

However, one area that needs to be addressed is the terminal’s roof, which wasn’t included in the building’s renovation.

The airport’s administrator, John Schmitz, said the roof needs repair.

“It was brought up about a year ago that the roof had some leaks and should be repaired,” he said. “It’s along the eaves, where ice backs up. It sits there as an issue that needs to be done but we don’t have the money to do it.”

He wasn’t told to do it at the June 19 meeting of the airport commission but what he plans on doing is approaching the four towns – Minocqua, Woodruff, Lac du Flambeau and Arbor Vitae – that jointly make up the Lakeland Airport Commission when they next meet for their annual meeting in October.

A representative from each town making up the airport commission meets with Schmitz monthly.

The annual airport meeting is a meeting of all the town supervisors and town chairmen involved.

Schmitz had already planned to ask for more money from the towns to help cover expenses such as the increased cost in snow plowing and removal, especially after a winter like 2013-14.

He doesn’t expect to get any extra money. But he will try.

“Money is tight for the towns, too,” Schmitz said. “We have some savings we could use but that’s for aviation equipment.”

In the overall scheme of things, the terminal, he said, is nothing. But the rest?

“We have to keep the runways and equipment in working order before we worry about fixing a building or whatever,” Schmitz said.

With that in mind, however, he will get an estimate for roof repairs on the terminal.

“We have to get a cost estimate to bring to the towns,” Schmitz said.

Even if the towns do approve an expenditure for roof repairs when they meet in a few months, he said it would be too late for the work to be done in 2014.

“That would mean we’d have to get through another winter,” Schmitz said. “Hopefully, it won’t be as bad as last winter.”

Source:   http://www.lakelandtimes.com