The idea of selling or leasing Arens Field is drawing opposition from its board of aviation commissioners. Board President Jeremy Wegner refuted claims that the publicly-owned airport simply subsidizes people with private jets and crop dusters, during this month’s joint Pulaski County Council and Commissioners meeting. “I think it’s more than that,” he said. “It’s open to everyone.”
On top of that, Wegner said the federal funding the airport’s gotten for things like runway, fuel, and parking improvements came with stipulations. “If a private entity that has leased or purchased the airport were to charge usage fees as part of their business plan, the Pulaski County BOAC, which is funded by Pulaski County and the Town of Winamac would be financially responsible for the millions of dollars in federal funding that’s been used to improve the airport of the last 20 years,” he said.
County Attorney Kevin Tankersley noted that it would take a lot of time to completely understand how the FAA’s stipulations would affect a potential sale.
But County Council Member Rudy DeSabatine argued that there are a number of privately-owned airports that seem to have gotten around these issues. He also cautioned against giving up on a sale simply because it may be a lot of work.
However, Wegner felt that a private business could still do many of the same things without having to purchase or lease Arens Field, even to the point of managing the airport.
