Michael W. Conner, 35, of East Peoria, Ill., was selected from approximately 30 applicants for the position that pays nearly $68,000 plus benefits, said executive director Barry Centini.
Conner comes from the Midamerica Airport in Belleville, Ill., where he was operations manager and assistant airport manager. I was impressed by the amount of growth that seems to be happening here, Conner said of why he sought the job. He expects to begin working full-time in the position on April 1 and relocate to the area with his wife and son. In October, Gowell submitted his resignation to the board of Lackawanna and Luzerne County Commissioners that runs the airport, but agreed to stay on until a replacement was found. He left on March 1.
The airport has been charting increases in the number of passengers boarding planes recently. For February, enplanements increased by nearly 14 percent from the same period a year ago. For the first two months of the year, enplanements are up 15 percent compared to the same period in 2004.
But on the financial side, the airport continues to report monthly losses. The airport reported a net loss of $65,055 for February compared to a loss of $69,418 from February 2004.
The financial outlook for this year doesnt show the airport making a profit, Centini said. The airport projects a loss of $168,706.
Also this year, 27 unionized workers will receive a 3 percent raise under the terms of a new contract approved by the board. Members of Public Service Employees Union Local 1300 agreed to a five-year contract, which expires in January 2010 and includes, among other things, the annual raise and a health insurance co-pay of 2 percent of the annual salary of the employee.
Centini updated the board on the ongoing construction of the new terminal building, saying, there are legal issues with Johnstown Welding and Fabrication and there could be legal issues with Sordoni Construction Services. The board approved change orders worth more than $551,000 for additional work done by contractors.
Centini said the airport will have a new revenue source next month when Northwest Airlines starts flights to Detroit. The fees the airline will pay to the airport over the 11-month contract will total approximately $14,000 a month.
