Commission is needed, agree most members of its three municipal partners, Midland, Penetanguishene and Tiny Township.
However, how to create the plan is being disputed. While members of Tiny Council believe that a consultant should be hired to complete the study, members of Midland and Penetanguishene believe there is enough expertise on the commission.
A business plan for the airport hasn't been completed in more than 10 years.
Members of Midland Council unanimously declined to support a resolution from Tiny Council that supports having a plan completed for the Huronia Airport Commission, containing the following conditions:
1. The terms of reference for the proposed study are reviewed and accepted by all partners;
2. The costs of the study are considered a one-time capital cost of the commission;
3. Each municipal partner contributes to the study at the same ratio as determined previously for other contributions;
4. All municipal partners are invited to have a representative, not currently a member of the commission, on a study-advisory committee.
"Let the airport commission do their job," said Midland Coun. Ruth Hackney, one of several councillors who spoke against hiring a consultant. "Why are we trying to interfere? I would like to see the airport commission continue on and bring a plan forward."
Councillor Bill Thompson views Tiny's resolution four, as an insult. "They (airport commission) agreed to proceed with a business plan ... This is meddling with the affairs of the commission," he said.
"If I was on that commission and (faced) with that abuse, I'd walk away," agreed Coun. Nancy Keefe.
The need for a new business plan was brought up when council members of Midland, Penetanguishene and Tiny Township came together on Feb. 7, at the invitation of Tiny, to discuss the township's continued participation on the Airport Commission.
Although the municipality has committed money in its budget for the airport in 2006, its council had asked its staff to find out whether the municipality could retrieve the assets it contributed if it pulled out of the agreement.
According to the Huronia Airport Commission Act, a municipality may withdraw at the end of the year with written notice 60 days prior to Dec. 31, but it will abandon any claim on assets including real property and reserve funds as of the effective date of the withdrawal.
The Huronia Airport Commission's budget is financially supported by all three municipalities and broken down as: Midland at 50 per cent; Penetanguishene at 28 per cent; and Tiny at 22 per cent.
In 2005, the breakdown meant a $55,574 contribution by Midland; $31,121 by Penetanguishene and $24,453 from Tiny, which also benefits from municipal taxes. Tay Township has never opted to join the commission.
In 2005, Tiny received more than $7,000 from the airport for property taxes and more than $26,000 from Zenair Ltd. and Custom Flight Ltd.
"Of the three partners, Tiny Township has the least amount of financial burden and it receives a revenue from the airport," said Mayor Bob Klug. "But having said that, it still is fiscally responsible - whether it be in Midland or Penetang or Tiny - for elected officials to review more regularly the financial burden and the benefits of that burden."
The airport provides regular service to Techform Products, Industrial Filter and LDI in the area. It also provides assistance to Hydro One, Giant Tiger, Ministry of Natural Resources and Huronia District Hospital with medivac flights.
Zenair Limited, an aviation manufacturer that employs about 20 people, is located at the Huronia Airport. In a recent letter to airport commissioner Ken Woods, Zenair manager Mathieu Heintz said Zenair would have to move if a user fee is invoked or access restricted. "It is critical that the local area continue to provide a quality airport to the local community at large."
