A project that could save hundreds of thousands of dollars is under way at the Huron County Airport.
Huron County Commissioner Larry Silcox recently said a two-man crew was at the airport working on tree and brush removal.
"They've started on the big trees," he said.
"They are supposed to take everything out," he added. "That includes the 2 acres owned by the city of Norwalk because we have worked out an agreement with them."
The trees and brush have been a source of ongoing controversy, as local pilots have claimed both were obstructions to airplanes at the airport.
Silcox said this tree-and-brush removal drama has dragged on for at least seven years.
The airport board's answer to this problem has been lately to apply for a federal grant and spend those potential dollars on obstruction removal, but the county commissioners have vetoed that idea in the past few years.
Silcox said not only are the obstructions being removed by Shank Forestry from Berlin Heights and a subcontractor, but the county might make a little money in the end.
"We might, depending on the size of the trees," he said. "We might get 50 cents a ton for the wood chips, but we won't know any of that until everything is down.
"The big thing is we are not spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on this, especially in this economy," Silcox said.
Silcox said a similar project recently took place at the county land lab on South Norwalk Road.
"These are good examples of people working together to get things done," he said. "This is a really good project."
Silcox said this should be it for the airport obstructions.
"I don't think there are any other obstructions," he said.
Silcox said once everything is down, the next task is stump removal.
"We haven't decided on that yet, but we may ask the county engineer to take a look at that," he said.
Comments
Thanks to the commissioners for saving us some money! The airport board, and club members will get their trees removed. And maybe the county will earn some money for the wood, instead of paying thousands to have them removed. Did you know a cord of wood is $150.00 that is a lot this year, and chips can be used in mulch, and OSB. Great Move Commissioners,now lets find a way to trim the Sheriff's spending, like used cars from goverment auctions, instead of new!
Are you kidding, or do you think the public is stupid. You really beleive this so called project using out of county businesses is saving our county money. The federal grant money that was rejected by these 3 commissioners totalled about $700,000 over a 2 year period. The matching portion required to get the federal grant money was to be funded by the airport, and through private donations, so NO COST TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY. So how do you figure you've saved hundreds of thousands of dollars. The company which won the original bids was a Norwalk construction company who employs Huron county residents. The tree removal project was only a portion of the entire project that the federal grant money would have paid for. Instead we have a Massilon, OH construction company who is cutting out most of the trees west of the runway down to stump level at their expense. They will eventually chip all of the trees/brush into a wood pellet product which they will take back to their county and sell. They are also using an Ashland company for their equipment fuel needs. Economic impact for Huron County so Far, ZERO!!!. On top of that,you praise the commissioenrs for not even having a clue if or how much money the county might get for giving all the work to out of county businesses. These commissioners were elected to help our county residents, and business owners, not businesses in Massilon, OH. Our three commissioerns also gave away $150,000 in federal grant money last year to Holmes County, and $150,000 to Brown County in 2011, instead of using it to repair our local infrastructure, and employ our local busiensses. Giving a million dollars in federal grant money away is not my idea of an intelligent group of public figures. Losng a million dollars that would have been put back into our local economy is almost a crime. Shame on them for not caring our our county businesses, and employees!!
Where's the "rest of the story" like it was printed in the paper? This project won't save anything at all. The money which was entitlement funds designated for Huron County Airport, went to Holmes County Airport and other FAA approved projects. All will be spent! All the commissioners did was deprive local people from some badly needed income. To add insult to injury, these three awarded the work to an Erie County company which subcontracted with a Summit County firm. Furthermore, there will be stumps left over and it will cost the county money to remove them. I wish the paper would get the story correct. The grant was for more than obstruction removal. It also was for drainage improvements and seal coat paving of the taxiways and ramp. Wake up voters. Our current crop of commissioners are using the airport simply for their own political gain to get re-elected.
GREAT JOB SILCOX!
You turn down $750,000 in outside funds that wouldn't have cost the county a thing and claim to have save the county money.
The grant would have payed for removal of the trees, repairs to the taxiway. drainage improvements, the removal of the stumps amd grading the area so it can be mowed(preventing the trees from regrowing there AGAIN).
Funds that would have gone to a LOCAL COMPANIES paying wages to local employees. Who'd then be paying income taxes on it and property taxes with it.
And YOU saved them from doing so.
Oh and now you're going to have the Engineers Dept remove the stumps?
WHO PAYS FOR THAT? The County!!!!
Your leadership is as bad a failure as Obama's
Time for you, Bauer and Essex to GO!
Sounds like someone is mad that their cronies didn't get our tax dollars. You airport guys think that grant money is free. You didn't care about getting trees removed, you just wanted to spread that money around to your buddies.
Roger,
That money comes froim taxes we the users in aviation pay and the local matching funds were covered without drawing on county tax funds for it.
The Commissioners(Silcox himself signed it) have already commited the county to keeping the airport open with the grant that purchased land for the airport in 2007.
Keep up your diatribes because that is all you have besides personal attacks.
Prop, and all your airport buddy club. Here is just a idea, Gather together all your rich airport friends,99 business that use the airport and let the bids to purchase and privatize begin. Buy the airport from Huron Co and make it your own private airport club. Willard and Wakeman airport only require a 2 minute difference in airtime, others will use them if Norwalk Good Boys Club Airport is private members only! Only problem is you will have to pay back all the FCC loans, grants (not free), and out bid Mr Bader who may have a profitable plan for the airport! This is only a election attack on our commissioners, because you spoiled fly boys do not get your way! Oh and I am one of the 60,000 taxpayers who will never be able to see,visit, touch or ride a airplane!
I do not own a plane or have a pilots licence, but I do work in aviation. The loss of Huron county airport will affect me as well as all those businesses that use it or have clients/suppliers who do.
Here is part of a letter that'll help people understand the benefits of the airport-
Have you used the Aerial Fertilizing / Aerial Seeding Service which has based its operation over the past 3-4 years during spring and summer months at the Huron County Airport, working with the local Sunrise Agronomy Co-Op. The Aerial company has fertilized over 40,000+ Acres of local farmland each of the past 2-3 year, spraying over ¾ of a million dollars of chemicals annually, increasing crop yields by 2-3 fold, and most important, profits for the local farm community members who used the services. Aerial Fertilizing /Seeding is becoming more popular and cost effective each year drawing more local farmers to use aerial methods in their farm operations.
Our current County Commissioners Larry Silcox and Gary Bauer, have done everything they can over the past 4 years to put our airport in a downward financial spiral, and increase danger to the users of the facility. Even though Silcox and Bauer have changed their positions as we get closer to election, their end game, no matter the consequences to agriculture, has always been to close the airport, and sell the county property to Bill Bader for his personal expansion. They refused to sign grant applications in 2011, and 2012, to improve the facility, and all at NO cost to the county taxpayer. They also made 2 recent airport board appointments, who instead of promoting and improving the airport for local agriculture, and other businesses, have done nothing but purposely create turmoil, and interfere with normal airport operations at every turn.
IMPORTANCE OF THE HURON COUNTY AIRPORT TO LOCAL AGRICULTURE
First, the airport is only a mile from the Sunrise Agronomy plant which makes their transportation of chemicals/fertilizer/seed very convenient, and cost efficient. The airport facility is in a perfect location to service the agricultural needs of Huron County farmers, as well as those from Erie, Ashland, and Lorain County. The paved runway is 75’ wide, and 4200’ in length which is important during the summer months when aircraft need a hard surface runway due to wet weather, and the extra runway length to ensure a safe departure on hot summer days when carrying full loads of fertilizer. There is self-serve fuel for convenience and 24/7 operations, especially important to get projects completed before the onset of inclement weather. There is also the ability to secure and store the aircraft and Ag equipment at the Huron County Airport during temporary down time.
CLOSURE OF THE HURON COUNTY AIRPORT, AND EFFECTS ON THE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
What would closing the airport mean to local farmers who use the Aerial fertilizing or seeding services???
First, the Aerial Service would have to find a suitable airport with a paved runway long enough for use during the summer when chemicals are loaded to capacity. They would require accessible fuel 24/7, and equipment storage. Possible sites with all required services include Mansfield, Lorain County, Sandusky County, Ottawa County, and possibly Wakeman (a private airport), 12 miles NE, located in Lorain County. Moving the Aerial Fertilizing Operation to another airport location will add:
1. An increase in aircraft time to, and from farm locations,
2. An increase in the amount of aviation fuel used,
3. An increase in the Pilot’s time to and from farm locations, and the new airport,
4. An Increase in employees time, and
5. There may also be additional charges in the form of landing fees, storage of vehicles, chemical, etc.
Who do you think will pay for these additional expenses??? Certainly not Larry Silcox or Gary Bauer!!!
OBVIOUSLY, YOU - THE LOCAL FARMERS WHO USE THE AERIAL SERVICES
I would like to go out to the airport and watch some planes take off and land. When would be the best time for that? Is there a peak time for traffic ie. the morning or afternoon, weekday or weekend when would be best?
i see them at all diffrent time at night they about like a space ship