Luzerne County Council unanimously voted Tuesday to earmark an additional $1.06 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Wyoming Valley Airport project, with several emphasizing the county-owned complex in Forty Fort and Wyoming is worthy of the investment.

Council previously earmarked $8.3 million in American Rescue funding toward the project, which will include construction of two new hangar buildings with related access taxiways and lanes, a new jet fuel tank and dispensing area, and an automated weather station.

The additional funding is needed to address unforeseen soil issues. The money will come from internal county road projects that were completed under budget.

Councilwoman Denise Williams said she heard and read online posts from residents arguing funds should not be invested in the airport based on their belief it benefits a small number of pilots and not taxpayers as a whole. Williams sought further explanation on the economic benefits.

County Manager Romilda Crocamo said improvements in any part of the county benefit the entire county, and the airport has been neglected for many years. The airport is part of county infrastructure the same as roads and bridges, and the county is concentrating on improving all transportation networks, including increasing rail freight, she said.

Developers often fly to areas to consider potential investment, and the Wyoming Valley Airport provides another option that will help with efforts to recruit new development, she said.

Crocamo said she doesn’t make decisions based on social media posts.

“I make decisions and recommendations based on data, on looking forward for Luzerne County, and this is just one element because we have to provide a full package for developers who want to come into our area,” she said.

Williams pointed out the airport is also used by medevac helicopters and state police aircraft that regularly land there to fuel up without the delays they encounter elsewhere.

Councilman John Lombardo said an airport flight school also helps with a pilot shortage, and he was proud to support the airport funding since initiation to improve the “beautiful piece of infrastructure.”

Councilman Harry Haas concurred with the others and said the airport is a “gem” with Valley Aviation Inc. as its longtime fixed base operator.

“Nobody is getting rich off the airport,” Haas said.

Councilwoman Joanna Bryn Smith said the airport is also home to a Civil Air Patrol squadron.

“So there are many benefits to the entire taxpayer base of Luzerne County,” Bryn Smith said.

Councilman Steve Coslett, council’s representative on the Airport Advisory Board, said the project is “one of the best things that will happen on the West Side” and is “worth it.”

Coslett said he visited the airport Monday and observed “phenomenal progress” toward completing the project.

David Jones, a project engineer at Delta Airport Consultants Inc., which is handling engineering and planning for the project, told council the airport has significant traffic for its size and described its flight school as a “phenomenal asset” that help address a “tremendous shortage” of pilots, mechanics and air traffic control personnel.

Council Chairman Jimmy Sabatino said he agrees with everything said and also wants to ensure all American Rescue funds are spent on local needs by the end of this year to ensure no money has to be returned to the federal government.

Other business

In other business Tuesday, council unanimously voted to:

• Extend county prison system inmate medical provider WellPath LLC’s contract one year. The contract extension for 2027 would total $5.4 million and includes costs for a medication-assisted treatment program for inmates with substance use disorder.

• Accept county oversight of a proposed trail project linking the Kingston and Forty Fort reaches of the Wyoming Valley Levee along the Susquehanna River so pedestrians and bicyclists are not forced to cross busy intersections. Council accepted a $500,000 state grant that had been earmarked to Forty Fort for the project.

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Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.