North Adams Airport Officials To Rent Former Flight School Office
 The Airport Commission held a special meeting on Monday to approve renting the building. |
The Airport Commission approved on Monday renting office space in the former Shamrock Aviation building for airport management pending an agreement with the building's owner. The city previously hired an employee of the flight school as the airport manager and the company took care of essential services.
Since the flight school closed in December, there have been problems with fuel and monitoring radio communication, as well as no place for the transient pilots to go. The Airport Commission has set a long-term goal to take over those services as a 10-year improvement plan progresses.
"What we're looking to do is to take over the essential services," Airport Commissioner Trevor Gilman said. "We always bring in more than we spend and now we're looking to grow that so we're a revenue generator for the city."
Providing stability in those radio and fuel services is the first step. The commission reached an agreement to take over the fuel distribution from Shamrock Aviation, who was still operating the fuel despite closing up the flight school, and is now planning out a permanent office space.
The City Council also approved establishing a $30,000 revolving account to take over the fuel operations but demanded that the money gets returned to the free cash account once they start turning a profit.
Gilman said the commission is in the process of developing a business plan, which will then be presented to city officials, that includes an expanded role in the operations. The commission is researching new revenue streams and hoping to attract more tenants.
Shamrock Aviation opened their flight school and scenic flying business in 2008 with Matthew Champney at the helm. Champney was given a stipend as airport manager to manage the services.
Champney resigned last year to take another job in New Hampshire. Shamrock owner Liam Shirley initially sought a new flight teacher and later closed up the building. He is currently looking to sell or lease the building, according to Gilman.
For the commission to rent the building, it will give the new airport manager and commissioner, Bill Greenwald, a space to operate as officials plan out the future.
"Now that nobody is operating it, we're in a spot where we're lacking those essential services," Gilman said. "This would allow us to a have a short-term solution... for now, it would just give us space for the public to use."
Not only will opening up the office provide space for the manager but will also serve as a visitor's center for incoming pilots — providing them with information about local attractions and restaurants. It will also provide bathroom space, which the commission is currently paying $100 a month to rent a portable restroom.
Commissioners worried about taking on utility costs in the winter but right now, they do not have much choice. Getting past this hurdle is only step one of the commission's bigger plans. The approval stipulated that the lease is month-to-month so they would have the ability to move out when they secure a better option.
"A municipally ran model is the more common practice," Gilman said. "We have a 10-year plan to make it a brand new airport."
So far the airport has cleared trees in both approach paths, installed new security fencing and gates and acquired new maintenance equipment. They recently completed a runway project, which cost nearly $7 million, and are eyeing a new taxiway renovation next year.
