Thursday, August 07, 2014

Jim Brown plans new services at Willoughby Lost Nation Municipal Airport (KLNN) as Lake County accepts ownership transfer


Lake County commissioners on Aug. 7 approved the transfer of ownership of Lost Nation Airport from Willoughby to Lake County and the county’s port authority. 

The action comes after the Lake County Ohio Port and Economic Development Authority Board of Directors and Willoughby Council approved the transfer on Aug. 5.

The only remaining step for the transaction to be completed is Federal Aviation Administration approval, which is expected to occur within the next 30 days.

Jim Brown, owner of Classic Auto Group and Classic Jet Center that serves as the airport’s fixed based operator, credited commissioners, Willoughby Mayor David Anderson and the Authority for working together on the airport transfer proposal because it really centers around jobs.

Brown said business owners can now go ahead and invest in the airport and related businesses because there will be no more uncertainty on whether the airport will remain open.

“I think what you’ve done today is created probably the biggest economic opportunity for this county that has ever existed,” Brown told commissioners.

He said new services and amenities can be added to the airport and there are people looking to invest.

“We’ve already got plans for 30 hangars that we’re going to put up at the airport the minute the FAA approves it, Brown said. “The airport needs a restaurant and I’ve already talked to some restaurant people about it.”

Brown plans to put money upfront to purchase an automated weather observing system that would help improve safety at the airport by providing information such as visibility and temperature.

“That’s even before we improve the runways, taxiways etc.,” he said.

Commissioner Daniel P. Troy said the decision to transfer airport ownership was made after a “tremendous amount of due diligence and study”.

“I think this now, if approved by (FAA) sends a signal of some certainty that this particular part of the county’s infrastructure will continue to exist under new management,” Troy said. “The bottom line is planning ahead and making sure Lake County remains economically viable and encourages investment and reinvestment in the county.”

Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish disputed rumors that the airport has recently lost money while under the city’s ownership.

“We have seen all of their finances from that airport and they have not lost money, ladies and gentlemen,” Aufuldish said. “It is our big feeling... Everybody is in lock step that this is going to be a great economic development tool for Lake County. We thank the mayor for his patience in the eight-year process and thank the Port for their due diligence in getting us to this day.”

Commissioner Judy Moran said there is a great deal of research and development underway at the airport.

“It’s only going to be looking up for the county as far as that goes,” Moran said. “It will be a great economic driver and there will be businesses that come in because of the airport being there.”

The city in 2006 asked commissioners to take over the airport’s assets. Commissioners created the Authority in 2007 to be the county’s economic development branch and shortly after the agency formed it began the task to investigate a potential airport ownership transfer and to see whether it made the most sense to keep the facility open.

The Authority conducted a lengthy two-phase study that included public hearings to examine the best use of the airport facility before it was determined to keep the airport open.

Willoughby Mayor David Anderson credited commissioners for creating the Authority and then directing the county’s share of state casino dollars to the agency to help promote economic development throughout the entire county. He said those two decisions directly culminated in the decision to transfer the airport to the county.

“I congratulate the three of you and past commission members also for some of those decisions for which I think you’ve shown great leadership,” he said.

- Source:   http://www.news-herald.com

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