The Peace Regional Airport may not be in the Town of Peace River’s hands much longer.
At last night’s meeting, council voted to ratify an agreement made with a not-for-profit organization whose identity remains confidential to the public.
The agreement still needs to be approved by the board of directors for the mysterious company.
During the meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Chris Parker indicated the group’s board of directors will have a vote to ratify the agreement on its end on December 7.
Once the agreement is ratified, the identity of the group will be revealed to the public.
Mayor Tom Tarpey says when this agreement is rubber stamped, it will take an asset off the town’s books that he believes should not be in the hands of municipalities.
“I certainly think that smaller municipalities should not be in the business of airports,” says Tarpey.
“We don’t have enough staff, we don’t have enough expertise.”
The federal government transferred the airport to the town in 1996, which included $1.1 million.
According to a document shown to council, the town has been on the hook for the approximately $740,000 per-year to operate the facility.
The town held a referendum asking the public what it would like to see done with the airport.
A relative majority of voters (45 percent) said the lowest cost is most important.
The agreement calls for the town to provide $700,000 of funding for the new airport for 2021 and 2022.
You can see the agreement council ratified by clicking here.
