Westmoreland Airport Authority authorizes loan to keep funds available for terminal expansion

Westmoreland County Airport Authority is taking out a $2.9 million bridge loan to keep payments flowing to contractors for the terminal expansion project at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

Expected funding from a $6.2 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant has been delayed.

Monzo couldn’t say whether the recent state budget impasse was a contributing factor.

“We don’t know the reason behind it being held up,” he said following this week’s meeting of the authority. “We anticipated we would have the money by now.

“The grants are in place. All we’re waiting for is for the ‘i’s’ to be dotted and the ‘t’s’ to be crossed.”

Monzo said he’s hopeful the funding will be released in about six months, but he said the authority will take out the loan for a one-year term, just in case.

Authority officials said the loan will be repaid from project funds and will not draw upon county dollars.

Authority engineer Scott Kunselman said if all goes well, the terminal project at the Unity airport should be ready to enter its second phase in the spring.

The first phase, which is budgeted at about $13 million, involves completing the shell of the building extension and relocating a security checkpoint.

The project’s remaining two phases are each expected to cost about $3 million, according to Kunselman.

He said the second phase will see the authority staff offices moved to a lower level, making way for a new security checkpoint and queuing area.

“Then we can expand the hold room and open a second (passenger) gate,” he said.

Bidding for the final phase also should take place in the spring, Kunselman said. That part of the work will focus on improvements to the original terminal — including new restrooms and an expanded baggage claim area.

Consultant to eye added airlines

The authority hired Volaire Aviation Consulting to help in considering potential additional airlines to offer service from the Palmer airport. Spirit Airlines, the airport’s sole commercial carrier, continues to offer routes from Unity to select southern destinations while it has cut service at some other airports.

Monzo said Volaire represents several other airports in the state and could help “negotiate with airlines on new business coming into the airport. … This would be an insurance policy for the airport authority, to stay on top of anything happening with the airline industry.”

He said the authority can tap its marketing budget to cover Volaire’s monthly retainer fee of $3,000 for up to six months.

Landing fee collection targeted

Monzo reported the authority is preparing to move forward with an agreement with a third party that would track and collect landing fees for aircraft that visit the Palmer airport.

Vector Airport Systems can perform the task more efficiently than can airport personnel, Monzo said. Without any increase in the fees, Monzo predicts that Vector, after it collects its fee, can increase the airport’s annual revenue from landing fees by about 50%. The fees currently generate about $17,000 annually.

Study first step toward solar

The authority also agreed to have solar array developer Veregy complete a no-cost energy assessment at the airport, a first step toward possible installation of solar panels over part of the parking area.

“They would be canopies that would increase the value of the parking area and also provide us with solar power for the terminal,” Monzo said.

He said the authority might also be able to sell some of the power to hangar tenants.

Veteran, employee memorials

Following Tuesday’s meeting, the authority conducted a ceremony on the Palmer airport grounds near a memorial to 12 U.S. service members who lost their lives on Aug. 26, 2021, when a suicide bomber attacked an airport in Afghanistan.

Next to the memorial plaza, the authority dedicated a pavilion erected last year to the late Linda Brasile of Latrobe. Brasile worked for the authority for nearly 40 years, most recently as finance director, before her death in 2023 after battling cancer.

Her husband of 39 years, Latrobe fire Chief John Brasile, recalled her dedication to working with the rest of the airport staff.

“It’s an honor to have something like this,” he said of the pavilion naming, but added, “It’s bittersweet.”

In a separate motion, the authority voted to name the public safety building on the Palmer airport property for Monzo.

“Public safety has always been No. 1 in my heart, and safety has always been a top priority for this airport,” he said.