BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA – Massena officials approved nearly $400,000 in spending for airport improvements Wednesday, Sept. 15 at the regular meeting.

The town has been implementing a host of improvements at the airport, which has seen major growth and success in recent years.

The council authorized town supervisor Steve O’Shaughnessy to execute an agreement with consulting firm C&S Companies.

The agreement is not to exceed $281,000 for the construction, inspection and administration services related to the terminal apron of the Massena International Airport.

A lump sum consultant agreement with C&S Companies was also approved, totaling no more than $97,000 for design services related to a sand storage building at Massena International Airport.

Superintendent of the Highway Department Frank Diagostino explained that the construction of the sand storage building would be required to meet FAA regulations for proper storage.

Sand used for the airport must be kept dry at all times. Up to this point, the airport had sand brought in by the highway department but it was stored outside.

The construction of the storage building has been bid out, with a winner selected. Construction is expected to begin next summer.

Construction on an additional fence and work on the tarmac is also in progress at the airport as well, Diagostino said.

Councilman Sam Carbone presented on the current progress of the airport, highlighting 890 passengers passed through the airport last month. That was a rise of 100 passengers compared to the previous month, he said.

“Barrett, the FAA and MED have inspected and will repair the power lines to the weather station as well,” Carbone said. Since sustaining damage weeks ago, the weather station at the airport has been forced to utilize generator power.

Repairs are expected to be completed soon.

Carbone also presented on an expansion project for the airport, which C&S are attempting to attain grant funding for.

“The project will include a covered area for long term parking, which will be great in the winter, as well as a covered area for handicap parking, a walkway to the main parking lot, a new roof and façade,” Carbone said.

The airport has also trended in a positive direction financially in recent years.

“We saw a swing of around a quarter million dollars, which is great for us,” Carbone said.

In 2019, the airport turned a profit of $49,688. Carbone expects that number to continue to rise.

“We have had a lot of people fly into the airport from all over the world. We even had American citizens with ties to the area fly up on a jet from Uruguay. They flew non-stop for 11 hours,” Carbone said.

Other pilots and passengers have come from all over the country, including Miami, Sarasota and New Jersey, just to name a few, Carbone said.