Arens Field is set to get some new fencing, but the Pulaski County Commissioners will have to do more research to see if the County Highway Department could help with the work. County Commissioner Kenny Becker brought the request to the rest of the commissioners last week.
“The airport is putting up a new fence between them and Dilts’s,” Becker explained. “They’re going to pay for half the material. Dilts is going to pay for the other half and put the fence up, if we can get the Highway to go out with the backhoe or however they want to do it and take the existing fence out.”
Becker explained that while the fence would primarily benefit the Dilts property, legally, the two entities should split the cost. The Board of Aviation Commissioners only has $500 available for that, and Becker said he’s spoken with Highway Superintendent Gary Kruger about helping with the removal. “It wouldn’t take much to take the fence out,” Becker said. “It’s only like a quarter of a mile, all steel posts and barbed wire.”
But County Attorney Kevin Tankersley pointed out that the airport isn’t solely the county’s responsibility. The Town of Winamac holds a one-third share of its ownership, and the Board of Aviation Commissioners is in charge of its management. “I mean, that board’s supposed to manage whatever money you give them, whatever the town gives one-third and you give two-thirds, whatever money they have, they’re supposed to manage it,” Tankersley said. “So if they’re short, then you need to get in agreement with the town to kick in more money to them.”
Commissioner Becker said he’d discuss the matter with Winamac Town Council President Tom Murray, before the commissioners make any decisions. Highway Superintendent Kruger agreed to take a look at the site.
