With a used police cruiser now a no-go for Wiscasset Municipal Airport, manager Frank Costa’s search for other wheels continues. He’s been using his own 2016 Ford F150 truck for some of his work, and would rather not.

July 20, he tapped the airport advisory committee for ideas. Renting a vehicle would cost about $1,400 a month, and there’s no money for that, Costa said.

“So this is serious. I don’t want to keep using my personal vehicle.”

Costa was hoping to get the cruiser the town bought after both the police department’s vehicles were in accidents. Selectmen had discussed sending it to the airport after the department was done with it; but, as Costa recapped for the committee, Chief Jeffrey Lange argued successfully to keep it.

Costa said he wasn’t planning to approach town officials again about a vehicle until some time has passed, because there’s no funding for one in the new budget and it would be hard for them to find a way. “Let the dust settle,” he said. But if he and the committee had a proposed solution, he could take it to Town Manager Marian Anderson to present to selectmen, he said.

Members said maybe a pilot would offer to donate a vehicle; pilot and committee member Steve Williams and his business provided one the airport used for years, until it was no longer fit for the road.

Those who use the airport have gone out of their way to support its operations, Williams said. “I think it’s the town’s turn to step up and address this issue.”

The town might be able to get a used pickup for $2,000 to $3,000, member Bryan Buck said. “Let’s just keep our antennae up for (one).”

Participants also discussed possibly seeking grants or a future budget item for fencing along part of Chewonki Neck Road. About a year ago, a man came in and walked up to a plane with its propeller running, to complain to the pilot about the noise, participants said.

Buck expressed concern for children’s safety: Without a fence there, they might come in after a lost ball, he said. A fence might cost $5,000 to $8,000, Buck said.

Talking tenants

Town Planner Ben Averill will head up efforts to find the airport’s next upstairs tenant, Costa said. Peregrine Turbine Technologies’ $900-a-month lease is up in October and the business still plans to move, Costa said. He reiterated his hope for a flight school or other aviation-related tenant.

Members said maybe two tenants could be found, possibly yielding more rent than one. They and Costa shared their hope the space won’t go vacant. “A $900-a-month deficit is going to start hurting, especially in the lean winter months,” Williams said.

Animals at the airport

A horse, some turkeys and deer have all shown up at the airport recently. Their separate appearances came up at the meeting, which members recast as a workshop for lack of a quorum.

Wildlife and the same horse have come to the airport before, participants said; it’s just something for pilots to be aware of, they said.

When the neighbor horse appeared June 24, Peregrine personnel “were able to coral the horse after several attempts and secure the animal to be removed from airport property without incident or danger to aircraft,” Costa writes in a monthly report to Anderson.

Tall grass that was attracting deer to bed down has now been cut, Costa said. But Williams said they are still around. A doe and fawns crossed the runway July 18, he said. And Costa said since the grass was cut, adult and baby turkeys have begun to appear. His truck horn gets them moving along, he said.

The committee decided to start meeting an hour earlier, at 5 p.m. No date was set for August.