Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport manager ready for retirement
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WILLIAMSTOWN -- The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport manager recently announced his retirement effective Dec. 1.
After about four years with the airport, Glen Kelly plans to spend more time with his family. With several completed projects and the partnership with Contour Airlines, he believes he is leaving the airport in good standing with the help of the Wood County Airport Authority.
"The authority has been great to work with. Had it not been for them, we never would have been able to achieve over $10 million in projects that we've been able to achieve over the past year and a half," Kelly said. "We've made great strides in maintaining the infrastructure."
Some of the major projects completed within that time are the runway rehabilitation, the replacement of the roofs on the main terminal and general aviation buildings and the newly completed LED lighting project.
The Wood County Airport Authority will meet Monday to discuss Kelly's retirement and replacement. Kelly said he recommends John Galusky to work in the interim until the position is filled.
Galusky was formerly the manager at the Morgantown Municipal Airport and has been working full time as Kelly's assistant for a few months. Kelly feels he would be a good fit for the position until a replacement is selected.
"I have the utmost confidence, he's got a good grasp on all the projects current and pending. He also has the institutional knowledge and the contact with the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and all (of) those other organizations in the state and the federal government," Kelly said.
When it comes to selecting the new airport manager, authority president Bill Richardson hopes for a smooth transition. His recommendation is for Galusky to take over after Kelly's last day and to advertise for the position next spring but the board members will discuss it further Monday.
"We want to have a smooth transition and he is familiar with management of the airport. It's important that we have continuity so as not to affect operations too adversely," he said.
Richardson praised Kelly's management and said he is sad to see him go but has full faith in the future of the airport.
"His management has been great, he stays in regular contact with me, (he) keeps myself and the board updated with what's going on," Richardson said. "He has done an outstanding job. I'm happy that he's able to retire but I'm sad that he's going to retire. Our hopes for the airport (are) very bright."
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.