Security upgrades under way at Mid
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Security upgrades under way at Mid

May 24, 2023

Jun 9, 2023

WILLIAMSTOWN — Officials working with the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are doing around $1 million in security upgrades at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport this week.

Officials will be installing upgraded security equipment in the area of the main terminal where passengers go through the security screening process.

The old equipment was removed as the new equipment was brought in Tuesday, said Airport Manager Ben Auville, adding installation began Wednesday.

"They are taking the old equipment out and bringing the new stuff in," he said.

Electricians and other technicians have been up at the airport getting things ready for the new equipment to be installed as soon as possible.

"We want to have minimal disruptions," Auville said.

The equipment and work is being paid for by the TSA, said Wood County Commissioner Bob Tebay who serves on the airport authority.

The equipment is expected to be fully operational today, and customers will be processing through it starting Friday morning, Auville said.

TSA personnel will be doing hand screenings while the new equipment is being installed with Auville saying the screening process will be a little more labor intensive, but their numbers are such it will be manageable.

The new equipment will be able to provide better higher resolution scans that will not require passengers to unpack as many items, like laptop computers and more, for individual inspection by screeners.

Once people pass through the TSA screenings at the Mid-Ohio Valley Airport, they are in the system and do not have to go through endless screenings at other airports.

"We will be up to the same standards as elsewhere," Auville said. "This is an investment in the local area that helps improve the quality of the security at the airport."

A message left with TSA officials was not returned Tuesday.

During a meeting of the Wood County Airport Authority on Tuesday, the authority approved the airport's annual budget, which included a 4.9% cost of living increase for employee pay which Auville said would help employees maintain a livable wage. The airport has 11 full-time and four part-time employees.

The airport is also adjusting rents by 4.9% at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

"The budget presented and approved is based on line items spent on common recurring expenses over the past four years," Auville said.

The airport has entitlements, which are federal funds given out over periods of time which are part of the budget. The airport has to match 10% of these, so $94,600 is budgeted next year as hold back to spend federal money, the manager said.

There's $95,000 for facility repairs, $27,000 for equipment and $15,000 for marketing and events and the Wood County Commission is giving the airport $60,000 for the next fiscal year.

"The county has been a huge help with keeping facilities in good repair," Auville said.

The airport has a lot of specialized equipment to keep in working order. This past year the two fire trucks required about $35,000 in unplanned maintenance costs, Auville said, adding the state has offset that with $25,000 in grant money and the county has given $3,500.

"These unexpected expenses can pop up when dealing with specialized equipment, so we’re trying to program this into the budget," Auville said.

Over the last four years the airport has done an average of $2,736,000 in sales per year. This consists of fuel sales, aircraft services and facility rentals. Over the last four years the average yearly net income is $232,000 after expenses.

"We try to ensure that we are reinvesting into and sustaining the airport," Auville said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at [email protected]

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