News - Stephenville International Airport

Airport looking for interim financing; KAZ deal won’t be negotiated in public: Mayor Tom O’Brien

Stephenville Town Council says government should provide interim financing for Stephenville airport until a deal is negotiated with KAZ Aviation to manage the facility.

At the regular general meeting of Stephenville town council Thursday O’Brien said Coun. Darren Roberts, chairman of the economic development and finance committees, and himself have been put in place to negotiate with KAZ Aviation and this was done by unanimous agreements of members of council.

“KAZ is excited about the future of Stephenville airport and we’re carrying out negotiations with them towards a goal of the continued operation of the airport; however, we can’t carry out these negotiations in public,” O’Brien said.

Meanwhile, after the meeting he confirmed the Stephenville Airport Corporation put a proposal forward to the provincial government for interim financing of the airport with the full support of the town.

“The interim financing is for the continued operations of Stephenville airport for the next number of months while negotiations continue with an interested third party,” O’Brien said.

Joan Burke, legislature member for St. George’s-Stephenville East, could not be reached for comment; however, Scott Barfoot, communications director for Shawn Skinner, minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, did confirm an application has been made to the provincial government for interim financing of the airport.

“It’s something that is being reviewed by this department and a decision should follow very shortly. Once a decision is made, Minister Skinner will talk about it,” Barfoot said.

Meanwhile, a Stephenville resident is pledging to do his part to make the deal go through, even if that means getting under the skin of local politicians.

O’Brien welcomed a meeting with Jeffery Short, a resident whose criticisms him and the Town of Stephenville regarding its dealings with Stephenville airport, were documented in a Western Star article last week.

O’Brien said he wouldn’t mind at all sitting down with Short to discuss his issues regarding the airport.