This sign near the airport directs individuals to where the St. Marys Airport Industrial Park will one day be located.

By Becky Polaski
Daily Press Staff

During last Monday's City Council meeting, Council members discussed the ongoing construction for the St. Marys Airport Industrial Park.

Councilman Tom Farley initiated the discussion by inquiring about construction that is currently taking place in that area.

"I was out at the airport over the weekend," stated Farley. "Looking at the soccer fields, they really look great. There was a lot of activity going on out there, but the thing that I was questioning was that there is a considerable amount of activity on the first couple of lots that we're going to be selling for the industrial park. Is there something happening there? A detention pond looks like it was built right next to the old roadway going into the airport."

City Manager David Greene explained that there are three similar detention ponds planned to be built on the site.

"Then they'll start with the sanitary sewer lines," explained Greene. "Then they've got underground electric lines to go across from the airport."

Greene also noted that much of the piping for the park is currently situated near the soccer fields.

"The green pipe is sanitary sewer, the blue pipe is water line, and the gray pipe is electric," said Greene.

Trees have also been cleared in the area and an access road is being put in.

"You'll go down to the end of the road where its paved and then make a right and it will go all the way back to a cul-de-sac," explained Greene.

This access road will also eventually be paved.

"It will all be done before the end of October," stated Greene.

As long as the project remains on schedule the area could be ready to be occupied by spring or summer of next year.

It was noted by Council members that all of the construction was initially supposed to already be completed.

Funding for the airport project was originally received in August 2006 but the delay in construction was due to the permitting process required to get approval from DEP and other agencies.