Airport future causing turbulence in Welland
As Welland prepares to divest its interest in Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport, the question of who will pay for an environmental site assessment of the facility is being raised. And whether it’s even required. Ward 6 Coun. Michael Petrachenko asked CAO Gary Long, whose airport governance review report was on council’s agenda, the cost of such an assessment.
Long said it could cost anywhere between $40,000 and $60,000. Of that cost, Welland would be responsible for paying 51 per cent, council heard.
Welland, Port Colborne, Pelham and Wainfleet all pay for the airport at 435 River Rd. in Pelham, with Welland, on a per capita basis, bearing the brunt of the funding, some $46,500 annually.
All of the municipalities have passed motions calling for Niagara Region to take over the operation of the airport. Similar motions were passed in Niagara-on-theLake and St. Catharines, calling on the Region to take over Niagara District Airport. Talks over the transfer of the airports to the Region have been ongoing for at least two years now.
The municipal motions asked the Region to pay for environmental site assessments or to waive the condition as part of the transfer of ownership.
In early March, the Region voted against the request to waive the assessments and to require that they be completed before any takeovers happen.
Mayor Frank Campion said the Region has made things more difficult by refusing to pay for the assessments or waiving their requirement.
“They’ve shut the door on the whole process,” Campion said. “Someone has to pay if we want this to move forward, but there’s no guarantee it will move forward.”
Long ’s report said staff feel there was very little benefit, if any, for Welland to continue to have ownership of the airport and that it does not fit in with the municipality’s strategic direction.
The report said the airport will continue to be a financial burden on Welland taxpayers, and, as it is located in Pelham, there are no tax revenues to be gained from continued ownership.
“Mr. Long is saying,’Do we feel we should continue to fund the airport, is that the business we should be in?’” Campion said.
Ward 2 Coun. David McLeod asked if the city is looking to divest itself of the airport, should it not agree to pay for an assessment.
“We should pay and move on …” McLeod said.
Campion said an assessment may not even be required, as the airport is just changing hands and maintaining the same or similar use.
Ward 1 Coun. Mary Ann Grimaldi ended the discussion when she asked for the report to be deferred until after the airport commission, of which Welland Couns. Jim Larouche and John Mastroianni are board members, holds its next meeting. No date was given as to when that meeting is.
“I don’t feel right doing this tonight,” said Grimaldi.