Newly-elected Huron County councillors were recently brought up to speed on the discussions around the two airports in Huron County.
CAO Meighan Wark said the airports are actually the responsibility of the municipalities and the county doesn't own any airports. But she added the Economic Development Board has identified the fact that these airports have a role to play.
“We've identified the fact that these airports have a role to play in terms of being potential assets for building tourism opportunities or other economic development opportunities in the county,” said Wark.
She said discussion with the previous council included looking at the potential for further development of either airport, what would that require and what costs might be involved.
Part of the challenge for both the Goderich Airport and the Wingham Airport is that the airports are actually located in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh and Morris-Turnberry respectively. So the municipalities covering the costs for maintenance at each airport is not the municipality that receives the property tax benefit.
“There are numerous challenges in relation to those facilities and so I think the reality is trying to put all of those challenges out on the table and trying to figure out a path forward that best suits the economic needs and the tourism needs of Huron County,” said Wark.
