MAHONING COUNTY Local officials replan airport funds meeting

Bureau officials changed their minds after commissioners sent a letter.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The once-canceled meeting between Youngstown/Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Mahoning County commissioners and the county auditor to discuss airport funding is back on again.
Commissioner Vicki Allen Sherlock had requested a meeting with the bureau earlier this month to discuss the possibility that the agency would provide money from its budget to help cover operating costs at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
But the meeting, set for May 13, was canceled because Commissioner Ed Reese and county Administrator Gary Kubic held a previous meeting with bureau officials on the same topic.
After that, Lawrence Richards, the agency's president, said there was no longer a need for a meeting.
Sherlock and Commissioner David Ludt sent a letter Friday to Tom Lyden, the bureau's director, asking the agency to reconsider that decision.
Richards sent a letter Tuesday to the commissioners and Tablack inviting them to attend today's board meeting to discuss airport funding.
The commissioners and Tablack plan to attend the meeting, although Reese said he might be late because of a prior commitment.
"I'm very pleased they're willing to meet with us," Sherlock said. "Hopefully, we'll have an opportunity to discuss funding for the airport."
Funding issues
Tablack suggests the commissioners determine if the bureau can give the county money to pay its share of airport operating costs. Commissioners have been unable to agree on whether the county can afford to match Trumbull County's $187,000 contribution to the Vienna-based airport this year.
The bureau gets its money from a hotel-motel bed tax, imposed by the commissioners, and has a budget carryover of more than $600,000.
Richards, an attorney, said he is not sure if the bureau is permitted under state law to provide money for the airport. The commissioners are waiting for a legal opinion from Linette Stratford, the county's chief assistant prosecutor.
Commissioners say if the bureau can't pay for operating expenses, it can help with marketing and promoting the financially strapped airport, which has no commercial airlines.
Tablack points out that the bureau has used its money to pay for people to play in the Giant Eagle LPGA gold tournament in Vienna, and to support the Youngstown Symphony.
"We hope there is a broad interpretation and there is some latitude," Sherlock said.
skolnick@vindy.com