Town and county councillors will meet to discuss the possibly of creating a regional commission that will oversee the Westlock Municipal Airport.
The councils agreed to sit down for a discussion after Westlock Airport Taxpayers Association (WATA) members made the pitch in front of town council Feb. 22, and then to county council Feb. 23.
Town council first motioned to request a meeting with the county following the presentation, while the county accepted the invitation after an in-camera session the following day.
WATA president Paul Stubbs said establishing a commission to operate the airport will provide long-term stability for the facility.
“We feel that as taxpayers of the airport, we’re in a better position to execute the long-term business plan for the airport,” he said.
“Councillors come and go, mayors come and go, reeves come and go and there isn’t any continuity for the airport.
“We have to reeducate councillors and mayors every four years to what’s been going on, what the history is.”
Stubbs explained the creation of a commission will benefit the airport by allowing those who know the facility best to make the decisions.
“We want to improve the runway, it’s got a frost heave in the middle of it and our taxiway has deteriorated to where it’s pretty much unusable,” Stubbs said.
“That needs repairing, and for whatever reason it’s been neglected. I’m not going to point fingers between the town and the county.
“The airport has been run by the town and the county, off and on, for as long as anyone seems to remember.”
Both councils seemed receptive.
“I was on the advisory board before we folded and the [Westlock Airport Taxpayers Association] took over. I found the people over there were highly motivated, dedicated individuals,” said town Coun. John Shoemaker.
“I was all for turning it over [to them.] The problem we ran into was we needed a more formal institution for the funds to be channeled over. It had to be in a commission format, basically.
“There’s nobody that has more skin in the game than these people. I think it would be a real plus if this commission was formed.”
Town Coun. Murtaza Jamaly said the initiative fits with the town’s already existing strategic plan.
“For me, personally, I find that it’s admirable when our residents are also involved in collaboration,” said Jamaly.
“It is worth noting that it is one of our strategic goals to be a leader in regional collaboration.”
Westlock County reeve Bud Massey said the county has interest in meeting with the town to discuss the possibility.
“It’s a viable option, it’s something to be seriously considered. It would be unfair to say anything without talking to the other partner,” Massey said.
“It has potential to make it more streamlined, operationally.”
Ultimately, the group assured a better operation of the facility for all parties involved.
“There are a lot of hard feelings at the airport because things have been promised over the years. Handshakes and whatnot that haven’t happened,” Stubbs said.
“We think we can put into place a business plan that will translate into increased taxes for the county and spending for the town.”
Budgets presented
Five-year airport operating and capital budgets were presented, as well as an anticipated timeline for the commission to be up and running by 2017.
Operating budgets were pegged at $148,850 for the first four years and increasing to $172,000 in 2021.
“Your budget is a bit aggressive,” Shoemaker said.
WATA vice-president Mike Breitkreuz said the budget was based on the airport’s actual 2016 budget of $143,791.
“We took the current funding model, the taxes collected on the airport and put into a reserve to be granted back because a commission can’t collect taxes, to operate,” said Breitkreuz.
“Any revenues from the airport, from fuel sales, and what have you, could go back into operations of the airport.”
In the capital plan, $1.25 million in expenditures were identified which includes the rehabilitation of the taxiway and runway, as well as the subdivision of new lots for sale and the construction of an east taxiway.
CAO Peter Kelly said they’ll need to go over details carefully.
“Without having all the details, it looks like it could be a long-term solution, but before we go there we have to see the context and the facts and figures,” Kelly said.
“They have some numbers that could have an impact on the county, if it’s fully tax driven.”
