Schuylkill County commissioners in a split vote Wednesday approved the release of $181,689 from the county contingency fund to the Joe Zerbey Airport.

Details, including what the money will be spent on, were unavailable as of Wednesday.

Efforts to reach county Finance Director Paul E. Buber, county Administrator Gary R. Bender, and airport manager Bill Willard were unsuccessful.

Bender said at the public commissioners meeting that the money was “to cover some additional costs at the airport.”

Commissioner Gary J. Hess and Chairman Barron L. Hetherington voted in favor of the transfer. Commissioner George F. Halcovage voted against the move.

In a phone call after the meeting, Halcovage said a report had been done mapping out the airport’s plans to reach financial self-sufficiency within four years. But when Bender asked for the report, he was denied.

“The county administrator can’t get a copy of it, that is why my ‘no’ vote,” Halcovage said. “I need to have transparency and get that from them. I just want them to explain how it’s going to be self-sustaining in four years. That was the reason for my ‘no’ vote,” he said.

The airport, just off I-81 at the Minersville exit, about 8 miles west of Pottsville, is owned by the Schuylkill County Airport Authority. It handles aircraft for officials of businesses that operate in the nearby Highridge Business Park, two miles away.

It does not handle commercial flights.

“Schuylkill County regional airport is an integral component to our county’s economic development plan,” Hetherington said.

“Highridge corporate aircraft from Walmart, Wegman’s and other companies routinely utilize our airport. The Airport Authority board members include some of our county’s best and brightest individuals,” he said.

Hetherington said he believes the airport, despite some past turbulence, can come into a smooth landing.

“It is no secret the airport has had a history of financial difficulty. That being said, the Airport Authority applied for and received a USDA grant to develop and implement a business plan to achieve financial self-sufficiency,” Hetherington said.

“The additional funding allocation requested today is part of the ultimate goal of having the Airport Authority become financially self-sufficient. I believe in the people who comprise the Airport Authority board, and I believe in their ability to make this happen,” he said.