Renovations continuing on Greene County Airport building one year after fire
Debris from inside the Greene County Airport is discarded in a dumpster in this February photo. A fire in the airport鈥檚 radio room on March 24, 2021, has caused the building to be closed for the past year due to extensive repairs and upgrades needed to get it up to modern-day standards. (Photo by Mike Jones)
Mike Jones
Mike Jones
A sign on the front door of the Greene County Airport building directs people looking for the office of District Judge Glenn Bates to go to the Greene County Courthouse.
Shortly after the flames were extinguished in the Greene County Airport鈥檚 radio room last March, the assumption was that a few electrical circuits would need to be replaced and a new coat of paint could be slapped on the walls for the building to reopen to the public.
The fire itself was relatively minor, although the interior of the building sustained heavy smoke and water damage. But as county officials began working with their insurer and started hiring contractors to repair the building, they ran into unexpected hurdles.
The electrical system throughout the building needed to be totally rewired and the ventilation ductwork had to be upgraded. Meanwhile, the schematic drawings of the building were out of date, forcing them to be redrawn before the bulk of the work could begin. When the work is finally completed 鈥� county officials hope it will be done in the coming months 鈥� the building will be practically brand new and up to modern-day code.
But by the anniversary of the March 24, 2021 fire, frustration had mounted.
The office of District Judge Glenn Bates has been housed in a temporary space in the Greene County Courthouse while the popular Airport Restaurant has remained closed during that time.
鈥淚 guess they鈥檙e working on it,鈥� Bates said this week. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a very slow process, and I鈥檓 very disappointed that it鈥檚 taken a year to get to this point, but at least they鈥檙e making progress.鈥�
Bates and his three secretaries moved into a cramped office space on the third floor of the Greene County Courthouse while he utilized a temporary courtroom for traffic and criminal cases. But his courtroom was eventually moved into a different room on the courthouse鈥檚 ground level two floors away from his secretaries as boxes of files piled up and became more cramped as the year went on. The temporary space has become cumbersome as construction on the building stalled, Bates said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just not a handy or efficient way to do our job,鈥� Bates said. 鈥淩ecords are out at the airport so we have to keep going out to get things.鈥�
After the fire, there were initial hopes that the airport building on Route 21 near Waynesburg could be fixed relatively quickly despite the smoke and water damage to its interior. The state police fire marshal determined the blaze started in the radio room from 鈥渟pontaneous heating鈥� of cleaning rags covered in chemicals that were stored there. Greene County Commission Chairman Mike Belding said shortly after the fire they expected to make repairs in a couple of months so the tenants could move back into the building.
鈥淚n the beginning, they told us one to two months,鈥� Bates said. 鈥淭hat would鈥檝e been great to be back there in one or two months. Things come up, I understand. But then it was four months and six months and now we鈥檙e on to a year.鈥�
Bates was told he could search for a temporary location for the county to lease, but he determined the options that he found were either too costly or would not be suitable as a short-term option. In hindsight, both Bates and county officials agree they wish they had leased an office space immediately after the fire.
Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall said the delays were a result of the repairs being much more significant than originally thought immediately after the fire. While the original interior demolition work was completed quickly, other problems arose as inspectors looked behind the walls, he said.
鈥淲hen the fire happened, it was thought one room, one circuit, easy fix,鈥� Marshall said. 鈥淲hen the (code inspector) came in we found out the codes had changed; it took a lot more than anticipated to bring it up to current code.鈥�
Construction is now making significant process with the upgraded electrical and ductwork expected to be installed soon. Once that鈥檚 done, the drywall can be attached and the furnishings can be returned to the building. The total cost of the project is estimated at $399,000, Marshall said, with the county鈥檚 insurance expected to pick up the bulk of the costs.
鈥淚t should be boom, boom, boom,鈥� Marshall said, although he declined to give a specific timeline on when the building will reopen. 鈥淗opefully it鈥檚 sooner than later. But it鈥檚 been a year.鈥�
The reopening will also be welcome news to customers who regularly enjoyed meals at the Airport Restaurant. Owner Kathy Kiger did not respond to a phone message seeking comment on the anniversary of the fire, but Marshall said she has indicated to county officials that she would like to return to the location and reopen the diner once the space is ready. Marshall said there have been some discussions about building a large deck on the side of the restaurant for outdoor dining, although their focus right now is on completing construction.
鈥淲e told her some of the changes and upgrades and she appreciated that,鈥� Marshall said. 鈥淪he wants to come back. The people miss her being there.鈥�
The county is seeking a partial permit from Franklin Township to allow the main floor of the building where the magistrate鈥檚 office and restaurant are located to be occupied immediately before renovations on the basement are completed.
Meanwhile, Bates is ready to get back into his courtroom, although he鈥檚 unsure when exactly that may happen.
鈥淭hey claim right now that they don鈥檛 see any more problems. They have the material, the money and everything is in place,鈥� Bates said. 鈥淪o, who knows?鈥�