Politics & Government

Essex SkyPark Secures 99-Year Lease with Baltimore County

The Essex SkyPark Association will pay $200,000 for the long-term lease agreement.

Essex Patch received the following letter from Ron Lane, secretary of the Essex SkyPark Association:

"Essex SkyPark Association is pleased to announce that we have secured a 99-year lease with Baltimore County for the operation of Essex SkyPark airport. Over this past year, we have worked to accomplish three goals: First, secure a long-term lease for the airport; second, obtain a historical designation; and third, obtain IRS nonprofit status.

All three were successfully completed by March 15, 2013.

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Our agreement for the 99-year lease required Essex SkyPark Association to pay $200,000 to Baltimore County upon signing the lease. Under the leadership of Brian Dolan, we were successful in raising a $200,000 through a bond drive to be paid back to investors over six years.

In October 2012, we received our IRS notification that we are 501(c) 4. The "4" designation allows us to operate without paying federal taxes; however, donations are not tax-deductible. But for those individuals who wish to see this SkyPark prosper we will accept donations and memberships as friends of Essex SkyPark for $10. You'll be added to our mailing list and be notified of special events and special offerings to our friends of  Essex SkyPark membership.

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During the 2012 Maryland General Assembly, Senator Norman Stone put forth a bill designating Essex SkyPark as an historic airport in the State of Maryland. The bill passed with unanimous agreement between the delegates and the senators and went to Gov. O'Malley for his signature and was signed in June 2012.

We give special thanks to the Back River Neck community for its long support and our elected officials in Baltimore County and the State of Maryland for helping us secure the airport for future generations.

We also want to thank our members and Friends of Essex Skypark who have worked, some quietly in the background, but others publicly active, in securing the airport."

Related articles:

Lawmakers Seek Answers on Essex SkyPark's Future

Bevins Seeks Solution for Essex SkyPark

Some Upset over Plan for Essex SkyPark

Members Plan to Fight County Over Closing Essex SkyPark

Poll: What Should Happen to the Essex SkyPark?

Essex Skypark Adds to Area's Aviation Legacy

 

Editor's Note: The letter was lightly edited for punctuation and grammar.


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