Jul 23, 2013 2 min read

Finleyville Airport will receive $165,000 from state taxpayers to prepare a site for new hangars and to acquire land to remove obstructions to its runway approach area, according to an announcement Tuesday from the office of Gov. Tom Corbett.

The grant was among $2.1 million approved by the 15-member State Transportation Commission, which includes the secretary of transportation, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor, and the majority and minority chairs of the state Senate and House Transportation Committees.

Earlier this year, Union Township officials announced they have agreed to spend $12,000 to cut down the trees at the end of the runway to comply with federal and state guidelines mandating the removal of obstructions leading to the airport.

Also locally, the Washington County commissioners entered into a contract with Lindy Paving of New Galilee, Beaver County, to rehabilitate Taxiway B and repair other pavement at the county airport in North and South Franklin townships.

Lindy’s base bid was $408,522, but with alternates, the amount of the contract could rise to $1.5 million.

Lindy’s was the lowest, most responsive and responsible bid received, according to Randy Vankirk, county purchasing agent.

The award has been approved by the Washington County Redevelopment Authority and engineering firm R.L. Kimball, and 90 percent of it is to be paid for by federal taxpayers, with the remaining amount from the state and the local share account of gambling proceeds from The Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

In another matter related to the Washington County Airport, the commissioners last week approved an agreement with Aeronational Inc. to reassign its lease to Skyward Aviation for 15 years.