WINTERSVILLE — The Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority Board of Directors heard Monday that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded more than $1.3 million to help cover administration and construction costs for the Jefferson County Airpark’s wildlife exclusion fence project.

Design of the fence — meant to keep wildlife off of the airport’s operational area — is “effectively complete,” according to Lance Wanamaker of the airport’s engineering consultant Michael Baker International. With the design phase in its closeout period, the project was awaiting funding from the FAA, prior to Monday’s announcement.

Now, the FAA has put forward $1,333,730 for the second phase of the project, which was bid to Estherlee Fence Co. Inc. Construction will see approximately 14,000 feet of 10-foot-tall, vinyl fence posted around the airport, including a portion underground that runs at an angle to keep out burrowing animals. The FAA’s funding covers 90 percent of the total project cost.

Following the announcement, the board voted to give Michael Baker International permission to ask the Ohio Department of Transportation to cover an additional 5 percent of the project cost, as is customary for it to do, noted Secretary-Treasurer Gary Folden. The board itself will be expected to put forward the remaining 5 percent — roughly $74,000, according to Folden.

Separately, airport manager Brian Thaxton reported that there are currently no hangar vacancies, claiming there are “a lot of younger people showing up,” primarily from areas in Pennsylvania. They’re drawn to the Geary A. Bates Jefferson County Airpark’s lease rates, which Thaxton said are much cheaper than surrounding airports.

Thaxton’s comment prompted board member Geary Bates to suggest now is the time for the airport to construct new hangars and meet demand, considering the board has money in the bank to utilize.

With the FAA having just approved the airport to remove and replace its wind cone, Bates said the cone’s place could be used for four new box hangars. There would be even more room to work with, he said, if the board demolished the Experimental Aircraft Association hangar that is currently leased for an indefinite length, pending development opportunities.

Board President Brandon Reese noted it’s about time for the airport to develop another Airport Layout Plan, a 20-year projection of anticipated physical developments. Reese said the hangar discussion would factor into a new ALP, and he’s open to having more discussions if the board agrees to pursue adding hangars.

Also, the board approved clarifying an addendum in the lease agreement between the board and the airport’s resident EAA Chapter 859.

The change was requested by chapter President MaryAnn Freeze, who initially asked that a certain clause in the lease agreement be removed — a clause that gives the board the authority to determine the chapter’s “viability.” Freeze said the clause ought to be removed because the board has no right to determine the viability of a chapter, which pays dues to a national organization and has 501(c)(3) status.

Bates said the addendum was meant to address concerns about the chapter’s declining membership at the time.

Reese said the board wrote the addendum, and added it with approval from the chapter’s then-president, to encourage the chapter to be active. He noted the board’s record of preferential lease arrangements given toward the chapter, given that the organizations has a positive effect on the airport community by working to promote aviation.

“I assure you that the EAA has gotten more benefits than anybody else on this field over the years,” Reese said, “and we did that for the plain and simple reason that EAA promotes aviation, and that’s what we’re about here. … As long as the EAA is promoting aviation as they always have, you always get that great deal on those T-hangars.

Reese continued: “But if … your membership dwindles … (then) that’s not an EAA viable chapter anymore. That’s not providing benefits to the aviation community. … For us, it’s about what are you guys bringing to the aviation community that gives us cause and reason to give you great benefits to have a place here on our airport.”

At Freeze’s request, the board agreed to include a clarification in the addendum, noting its relation to the EAA’s benefits in exchange for a positive impact on the aviation community.

Freeze noted the chapter has added two new members and is working to revitalize its efforts by hosting more events — developments that members of the board commended.