Council OKS lodging tax dollars for Learjet ask

Wapakoneta City Councilors agreed to grant $50,000 to the Armstrong Air and Space Museum Monday, authorizing lodging tax dollars to help fund a new exhibit

at the city’s leading tourist attraction.

Lodging Tax Committee Chairman Dan Lee explained the museum will soon be home to the Learjet 28-001 that was piloted by Neil Armstrong in 1979. The jet was

donated to the the museum in August of 2020 and has been

housed at the Armstrong Airport in New Knoxville.

The Learjet is a significant part of the Armstrong legacy, as he set five records while piloting the aircraft. Armstrong, best known as the first

person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 space flight, was a former United States Navy pilot, NASA test pilot, Gemini and

Apollo program astronaut and commander of the Apollo 11 mission.

Lee said the total project has a price tag of $30,000, which includes

decommissioning the airplane, repainting it, relocating the airplane to the museum, constructing

a landing pad, interpretive signage for the display, and funds to maintain the airplane. The $50,000 grant brings the fundraising project to an estimated $100,000.

Armstrong Museum Board president Will Snyder and committee volunteer Greg Myers made the

ask of the committee during its regular meeting Monday.

Also during council’s brief meeting Monday, Chad Dunlap, chairman of the Streets and Alleys Committee, asked Interim Mayor

Steve Henderson to arrange for the installation of stop signs at the east and west intersections of Stoneybrook at Carnation Drive. Aaron

Stiger, a resident in that neighborhood, approached city council during the Oct. 4 meeting, noting

safety concerns because of a dip in the street that impaired vision. Committee members agreed to the

stop signs in an attempt to keep pedestrians safe.

Henderson reported interviews with potential safety service directors continue, and planted the seed

among council members regarding the residence requirement attached to that position.

As Henderson is interim — and acting to the fill the safety service director’s position in the absence of the former SSD — he reminded councilors if suspended Mayor Tom

Stinebaugh is acquitted and returns to his position, he is charged with the appointment of an SSD, and there’s no guarantee Stinebaugh would keep an SSD appointed by Henderson. Asking someone to move while the situation is still volatile may be asking too much,

Henderson said.

Lee also reported for the Utilities Committee, noting the water department will conduct a water model study at a cost of $17,500. Having that study completed will allow the city to

apply for a state-funded grant that would help with development at the Job Ready Site. While details about the grant itself were unavailable, at this point the city is simply performing the

study, Lee said, which puts it in position to apply for the grant if applicable.

Council members also heard the first reading of an ordinance that establishes legislation to allow ODOT to pave portions of State Route 33A and Ohio 29 that are within the city limits.

Four committee meeting dates were announced:

* Streets and Alleys, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. * Health and Safety, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.

* Parks and Recreation, Oct. 28, 8 a.m. * Lodging Tax, Nov. 15, 6:15 p.m.

All meetings will be held in the conference room at city hall.

City council meets again Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers in city hall.