Port Elgin’s Municipal Airport is reporting a successful past year and is hoping for continued support from Saugeen Shores council, but this year’s amount is likely going to be lower.
Committee President Kevin Yaraskovich says even though economic conditions were getting worse last year, the airport still saw a lot of traffic from across Ontario and the US.
He says many visitors just come to the airport to find out about charter flights, training, or to watch aircraft take off and land.
The airport has requested 19, 500 dollars from this year’s municipal budget.
Vice Deputy Mayor Doug Gowanlock says the amount is going to be slightly less because of efforts to keep spending down.
Gowanlock says it’s a tough year but the reduced amount will not be enough to affect service at the airport.
He says it just might mean that some projects might not get completed as quickly as hoped.
The Airport Commitee would like to build a new storage shed, put a new roof on the terminal building, and improve lighting around the terminal.
Yaraskovich says they rely heavily on volunteers, and that’s why they are able to operate on a low budget.
The Port Elgin Airport operates seasonally is located at the south end of town on Highway 21 and has a grass runway.