The proposal to add Gene Kranz’ name to that of Toledo Express Airport goes before the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority’s board of directors Thursday.
Toledo City Council already has passed a resolution to formally change the airport’s name to Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport, and the city owns the airport. But the board of directors also must sign off on the proposal, as the airport’s operator, before it can be referred to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval.
A Toledo native born in 1933, Mr. Kranz, 86, is best known as the flight director for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 space missions. He retired from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1994 to close a 34-year career there.
Port leadership expressed support for the renaming proposal made by Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz before it was taken up by city council.
Among other items on the port board’s agenda Thursday are two resolutions authorizing agreements with RS&H Ohio Inc. to oversee construction projects at Express and at Toledo Executive Airport for which the Federal Aviation Administration announced grant awards Tuesday.
At Toledo Executive, formerly known as Metcalf Field, RS&H is to be paid $15,000 for additional design of a taxiway serving a new hangar and $57,700 for oversight of the total project’s construction.
At Toledo Express, RS&H is to oversee the resurfacing of Taxiway B, work for which it is to be paid $147,351 if the board approves the contract.
The FAA is providing a $2.82 million grant for the Toledo Express project that includes covering 90 percent of the consultant’s contract. The port authority would pay the remaining $14,735 from its reserves.
The FAA’s grant for the Toledo Executive taxiway is $366,775, which also includes 90 percent of construction management.
The port authority board is scheduled to convene at 8 a.m. in Classrooms A & B on the second floor of the Port Authority Building at One Maritime Plaza on Water Street.
First Published September 25, 2019, 10:24 p.m.
