It's a good thing when officeholders cooperate

It would be easy to conclude that Mahoning County commissioners have turned their backs on the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport because of their failure to appropriate $185,000 for its operation and maintenance.
However, such a conclusion would be wrong.
If anything, at least two of the three commissioners are more determined than ever to see that the airport remains open and becomes viable again. That's because the future of the Air Reserve Station, which is adjacent to the airport, hangs in a balance.
In 2005, Congress is to issue a list of military installations that will be closed. The base in Vienna Township is an $80 million a year economic boon to the Mahoning Valley and its closure would be devastating. The installation is home to the Air Force Reserve's 910th Airlift Wing and has more than 2,000 full- and part-time Air Reservists, civilians and contractors assigned to it.
But to make the case for keeping the base open, the airport's continued operation must be guaranteed. That's because the runways and other facilities are used by the military
Trumbull County commissioners have allocated their $185,000 share, but that isn't enough to meet all the expenses associated with a public airport. The money from Mahoning County is essential.
Commissioners Edward Reese and Vicki Allen Sherlock know that and have made it clear that the commitment will be kept. Nonetheless, Sherlock wants a little time before she votes on an allocation. That's not an unreasonable position.
Commissioner David Ludt, on the other hand, remains opposed to supporting a facility in Trumbull County when Mahoning County employees are being laid off as a result of the budget crunch.
County auditor's role
Reese wanted to allocate $62,000 during a meeting Thursday, but he could not get a second to his motion. Sherlock's unwillingness to act immediately is not a reflection of a change in her position. Rather, it has to do with a decision made Tuesday when she and Ludt met with county Auditor George Tablack.
Sherlock had organized the session so commissioners could hear what Tablack had to say about the county's financial condition and whether he believed Mahoning County should continue funding the airport.
While the auditor conceded that government is facing tough economic times, he made it clear that Mahoning's involvement in the airport must continue. He did suggest, however, that before any money is allocated, officials should explore every revenue source so as to establish a long-term funding stream for the airport.
We wholeheartedly agree. Now is the time to talk about the airport's financial future. While the June 30 deadline that Tablack proposed for coming up with such a plan may be too far away -- the airport manager says he is running out of money to pay the bills -- the need to find new ways of doing things and new sources of revenue has never been greater.
We support a long-term financial plan for the airport for one simple reason: The commander of the Air Reserve Station, Brig. Gen. Michael F. Gjede, has publicly said he would like a commitment for funding the airport at least through 2005. That would send a strong message to Washington that the Valley is willing to do what it must to ensure that the base remains open, he said.
Area residents who continue to advocate the closing of Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport are being shortsighted and irresponsible.
If, for political reasons, they aren't willing to listen to Reese or Sherlock, they should at least pay attention to what Tablack is saying. After all, he has long criticized other officeholders for not undertaking long-range planning for their departments.
Major loss
If the airport is forced to close, the Air Reserve Base will be in jeopardy. And if the base shuts down, thousands of jobs will disappear and millions of dollars will be removed from the region's economy.
That's too high a price for what amounts to a meager investment on the part of Mahoning County.
If the operational costs of the airport can be decreased, they should be. If Trumbull County government can provide in-kind services, it should do so. (The Mahoning County auditor's office is providing free bookkeeping services to the airport.) If the Mahoning County Visitors and Convention Bureau has money it can dedicate to the airport's operation, it should do so.
Members of the federal base-closing commission should rest assured that Trumbull and Mahoning county governments are fully committed to the future of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and, by extension, the Air Reserve Station.