$16m Tower Is Awaiting Taxpayers/ Exclusive

Andrew Zavada Crestwood Sr.

By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@leader.net
 Friday, December 02, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





Taxpayers from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties will pay a total of $1.2
million to build the new restaurant and bar in the terminal building under
construction at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Commissioners from both counties that own the airport said Thursday they
have the money for the project, which has not been publicly discussed. They
have conducted closed-door negotiations about leasing the space to the
longtime operator of the existing restaurant, Leo Vergnetti. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In a letter sent to the counties late last month airport director Barry
Centini requested $600,000 from each, saying the money must be provided by
February 2006. His request was on top of $450,000 made in September needed for
the completion of the terminal and apron area. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The cost of the construction is estimated at $1.2 (million), which the
Commissioners have agreed to fund," he wrote. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Centini was out of town Thursday and could not be reached for comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Most of the $55 million to build the terminal and aircraft parking area is
coming from state and federal sources, with the counties and the airport
contributing less than 10 percent. It is expected to be open early next year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Michael Conner, assistant airport director, said the timing of the funding
request was due to the delay on deciding how it would be paid for. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It was an unplanned cost by the mere fact that no decision was made on how
the restaurant would be done," Conner said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The space will be built to airport specifications and likely leased to
Vergnetti, said Todd Vonderheid, Luzerne County commissioner and airport board
chairman. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This is where we have most control," he said. The airport will recoup its
investment through the lease. In addition, the airport will not have to borrow
money to pay for the project. "The airport won't have to service that debt to
us." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rather than entering into a long-term lease with someone from the outside
who comes in and fills the space, the board opted to give Vergnetti the
opportunity to submit a proposal, Vonderheid said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He's been there during the darkest time of the airport," said Vonderheid.
Vergnetti "provided a competitive number." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Terms of the lease have yet to be finalized, added Vonderheid. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert Cordaro, airport board vice chairman,
said the county has the money for the project. "It's old news. We knew it was
going to be a separately calculated cost." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Under the plan expected to be approved by the board, the airport will be
paid a flat lease and receive a percentage of the gross sales. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Luzerne County will pay its share of the restaurant with "residual dollars"
from a bond the county took out to pay for the Susquehanna riverfront project,
said Commissioner Steve Urban. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 However, the request came as a surprise to him, he said. "We don't have a
choice. It's something that's needed to scomplete the airport project." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He warned of the possibility of other added costs to the counties such as
the construction of a retention pond to prevent flooding in Avoca and the
possible construction of a new airport tower. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Airport's Restaurant, Bar To Cost $1.2 Million/ Exclusive The New Facility Might Be Leased To The Operator Of The Existing Restaurant.