County purchasing property adjacent to airport

January 2, 2019

Barbara Miller
Observer Reporter

With the eventual expansion of the Washington County Airport’s sole runway in mind, the county commissioners, at the request of the redevelopment authority, adopted a resolution last month to buy property on Mounts Road in Buffalo Township.

The purchase price for 2.6 acres owned by John J. Svetz, who owns a home, pole building and garage for a truck repair business, is $175,000.

The redevelopment authority, which operates the airport on behalf of the county, will demolish the buildings but has no target date.

Also last month, the board of commissioners approved a $249,650 mitigation supply agreement with Resources Environmental Solutions, LLC.

The county and redevelopment authority purchased wetland and stream credits for mitigating the environmental impact of 0.73 acres of wetland and 198 feet of stream that are part of the airport’s north side development project.

Part of the cost is being paid for by taxpayer dollars through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Aviation.

Also at the request of the redevelopment authority, the county entered into an $800 month-to-month lease with Friend AirCare Inc. for the building known as the former Guard hangar.

Charges for telephone service, electricity, waste removal and lawn care will be added to the base fee.

Friend AirCare Inc., formerly known as Cheyenne Air Service, has been operating at the Washington County Airport since 1992, maintaining corporate turbo-props and jets.

William McGowen, executive director of the redevelopment authority, said the hangar previously housed Pennsylvania Army National Guard helicopters but hasn’t been used for that purpose for decades.