New Philadelphia council approves airport hangar project

Council approved construction of a new 12-bay hangar at Harry Clever Field at its May 28 meeting, after questioning airport officials about financing for the project.

Application for a 3%, 20-year $641,000 State Infrastructure Bank loan to help fund the project was approved by a 5-1 vote, with Councilman Brian Sears casting the lone “no” vote.

The vote comes as the city of New Philadelphia has been dealing with tight finances.

The entire project would cost around $1.5 million, which will include construction of a taxi way around the new hangar. Federal and state funding would cover the cost of design for the project and construction of the taxi way, but the loan will be needed to fund construction of the hangar.

Hangar rental fees would be used to pay back the loan.

At a meeting of the Public Works – Economic Development Committee prior to the council meeting, Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos asked what would happen if there were some vacancies in the hangar and the rents were not covering the cost of the loan.

“If you would get some vacancy, we have other rental income from the other hangars we have at the airport outside of the 12-bay hangar,” said Airport Commission member Don Kennedy.

He added that there is about $15,000 to $18,000 of rent that has been collected from a hangar built in 2019 that has not been used for the repayment of the loan on that hangar.

Auditor Heather Denham expressed concern about the upkeep and maintenance of the older hangars at the airport. “There’s really not any money going into our capital improvement fund or general fund to cover the maintenance on the hangars.”

The airport commission is looking to raise maintenance fees in January 2027 to bring in additional revenue, noted commission member Bob Bedard.

Sears told commission members that they had put together an excellent business plan for the hangar. “But a month ago we were trying to find $40,000 to buy a bucket truck. Now we’re going to take out a loan for $600,000 to build something that only a small segment of the population uses.”

He added, “Given where we’re at right now, the conversations it feels like we should be having are about saving money and not taking out loans.”

Service Director Ron McAbier noted that all money generated by leases at the airport cannot go into the general fund to pay for something such as the bucket truck. “The rules are that it has to stay within the fence of the airport.”

Mayor Joel Day reported that the new inclusive playground at Tuscora Park has been hit with children in the area. The playground opened on May 24. “Parks Superintendent Adam Fulton has reported that the playground has been well used during park hours.”

The mayor also discussed a project where dirt is being spread on two lots in the 1100 block of Union Avenue NW. The city and the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce have received numerous inquiries about what is going on there. “It’s fill dirt,” he said. “The landowner told us that there are no immediate plans for construction on that property.”