Chermak named chair of Bi-County Airport Board

PITTSTON TWP. — Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak Thursday was named chair of the Bi-County Airport Board.

Four of the six members of the board attended and all voted for Chermak — Tim McGinley, Luzerne County Council, and Romilda Crocamo, Acting Luzerne County Manager, and Lackawanna County Commissioner Jerry Notarianni, along with Chermak. Absent were Lackawanna County Commissioner Debi Domenick, Esq., and Luzerne COunty Council Member Lee Ann McDermott.

The board tabled the election of a new vice chair. Also attending the session was Luzerne County Conptroller Walter Griffith, who asked a few questions and was told he would receive written responses from Executive Director Carl Beardsley.

Beardsley reported that passenger activity continues to increase, with enplanements for December up 111.2% to 15,256, from 7,224 in December 2020.

In December 2021, Beardsley said no departing flights were cancelled out of a total of 18,426 departure seats. Also, Beardsley said no arriving flights were cancelled.

Beardsley also gave a report on the recent closing of the Tipsy Turtle airport Pub that was located at 28 Concorde Drive, Avoca. Beardsley said the airport ) owns the land and the building that Tipsy Turtle used for the restaurant. The space used for the restaurant was leased to Tipsy Turtle for approximately 10 years and was set to expire on Jan. 1, 2022. Tipsy Turtle paid a monthly lease rate of $3,000 during its final year of operating the restaurant, Beardsley said.

Beardsley said in December 2021, Tipsy Turtle notified the airport that it was closing, indicating that the last day was going to be Dec. 31, 2021. They further indicated to the airport that the closure had to do with work force availability and was not a profitability matter.

As a result, Beardsley said the airport is aggressively pursuing a new restaurateur to replace Tipsy Turtle.

“This is not the ideal time to be on a search for a replacement restaurant,” Beardsley said. “Some experts in the restaurant leasing business have notified Airport management that restaurant developers are looking for a building in turnkey condition. Fortunately, the restaurant on the airport is currently in turnkey condition and extremely clean.”

Beardsley said Tipsy Turtle desires to sell certain tangible and intangible assets of the restaurant business on the terms and conditions of the agreement. Beardsley said after careful negotiations and discussions with experts in the field it has been determined that $60,000 is a fair price to pay for the assets.

Beardsley requested that the airport board approve the payment of $60,000 for the equipment listed on the roster of restaurant equipment owned by Tipsy Turtle.

Beardsley also recommend the Airport Board approve a Concession Agreement for Flippit, which is based on the term sheet approved at the board’s last meeting and with the solicitors’ concurrence.