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LOCK HAVEN -- The City of Lock Haven may consider selling the William T. Piper Memorial Airport for aviation use -- and some of its tenants are not happy to hear it.
The news came via letters sent to employees at the airport, and business owners renting space on the property, from City Manager Gregory Wilson.
According to the letters, in July, Lock Haven City Council directed Wilson to have an appraisal done to determine the fair market value of the airport and its assets.
"This is the first step of council to gather information to help it decide about the future of the airport as a city-owned facility," Wilson's letter to airport employees states.
The city bought the original 70-acre airport in 1937 when William Piper moved his operations from Bradford to the city. Since then, 40 more acres have been added to the property.
When Piper closed its doors in 1984, the city began to operate the airport as a general aviation facility.
At this time, according to the letter sent to business owners, the airport has 43 tenants -- with five of those tenants being city residents.
"With only five of the city's more than 8,200 residents being tenants at the airport, it may be time for those with a new vision for the airport to come forward and forge a new future for the facility," Wilson's letter stated.
One of these tenants -- Nils Montzaros -- spoke in opposition of the potential appraisal and sale during council's meeting on Monday night.
Montzaros, who lives along Renovo Road in Mill Hall, rents from the airport property and is a licensed pilot. He said he received the letter on Sunday and was "blindsided." He noted others involved in the airport also felt the same.
"I'd like to go on record as opposing (it)," he said. "I think the airport is an important part of the history of this area and it brings in a lot more business."
Montzaros said paying "thousands of dollars to get the airport appraised" with the potential of not selling would "just be wanted money."
"The airport has other obligations, especially because of federal grant money it's receiving," he said.
Councilmember Rick Conklin asked Montzaros his thoughts on the current hangar rental costs.
"From a pilots standpoint," Conklin said. "Because we're going to need to get there."
Montzaros said the city's current rates are "very competitive" compared to more metropolitan areas where the cost could be around $600 for a rental.
"I think Lock Haven is competitive," he said.
Montzaros said he agrees the airport could be managed better to help with costs, but felt there were other options to be considered before a potential sale.
"There's a lot of airports that have formed an airport authority," he said. "The authority can direct management of the airport and have a more hands-on approach."
Montzaros acknowledged the city is involved in the management of multiple assets, and airport management may not be the easiest.
"An airport authority may be the answer, rather than it being managed by the city," he said. "There are other options out there. What I'm opposed to is selling the airport or putting the airport to non-aviation... it could be detrimental to the area."
At this time, according to information in letters sent out, the city isn't looking at selling the property for non-aviation use.
Wilson's letter said the facility would be appraised for its fair market value, noting it wouldn't be a quick process.
According to its letter to airport employees, the city cited difficulty in its revenue and expenses for the move.
"While the airport does bring in its own revenue through rent and fuel sales, it isn't enough to cover the operating expenses," the letter stated.
According to Wilson, the city's used over $1,927,000 in taxes in the past 10 years to ensure the airport budget breaks even.
In its 2023 budget, the city approved raising its rental rates nearly across the board after five years to bring in more revenue while still keeping rates at a level lower than other airports. Total revenues were predicted to be about $147,792.