Wadsworth considering new airport operator

WADSWORTH — A new operating company could be brought on at Wadsworth Municipal Airport as negotiations between the city and current building leadership continues. On Tuesday, City Council approved a first reading of legislation opening the airport operator slot to bids. As it stands, that would still need to pass two more readings before an actual bidding process is started. City Public Service Director Robert Patrick said talks with the current operating company, Flight Services of Wadsworth, will go on as the city weighs whether to seek other options at 840 Airport Drive. "We extended the agreement we have with the operator of the airport back in July through the end of January," he told council. "That's so we could have discussions and understand the operations and needs down there and, possibly, come to a resolution. If not, we've known it would have to go out to bid." Patrick said Flight Services of Wadsworth is paid $4,941 per month under the current agreement. "We do have some time left but we have to get this done and have a new agreement but it's also very important for council to get this (request for proposal) out before Christmas so folks can respond." At-Large Councilman David Williams asked why the issue wasn't brought before council sooner. "This is an issue that's been going on for six months now," he said. "I just got this legislation 52 minutes before the meeting started. On short notice, I had time to make a quick call to another airport to get a feel of what they're doing. We haven't had an airport commission meeting in 20 months and we haven't talked about this at public ways (committee)." Williams suggested the legislation be put on second reading rather that passed on emergency, which fellow council members agreed with. "If a renewal can't be worked out and a bidding process begins, the negotiations we're working on would, at that point, cease," Patrick said after the meeting. "We're tying to work out financial stuff in these talks (with the current company) and what expectations are as far as times of operation." Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at (330)721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.