Multiple bodies must still approve lease before the plan is finalized

By Adam Hocking

Editor

MARSHFIELD — On Tuesday the Marshfield Common Council approved the use of the old airport terminal on the Marshfield Municipal Airport property for the purposes of establishing an animal boarding pet shelter facility run by Marshfield Area Pet Shelter (MAPS). The lease agreement must still be approved by The Federal Aviation Administration, the state’s Bureau of Aeronautics, and the city’s Airport Committee. The council will vote on the lease agreement during its May 12 meeting, which will give the other bodies time to give their input.

The conditional use permit for MAPS to use the airport space was first approved by the City Plan Commission on April 21.

As it stands presently, the lease calls for MAPS to rent the space for $500 per month plus utilities. Renovations to adapt the building into a useable space for a pet shelter will be needed.

“They’re going to have to do some pretty good work to try and make it what they need it to be,” City Administrator Steve Barg said. The space will be able to accommodate 30 cats and five dogs.

If the current framework holds, the initial term of the lease will be three years with the possibility for seven one-year extensions after that. Barg said that after 10 years the plan is to demolish the building and make the land available potentially for other airport uses. MAPS could also be asked to leave with 120 days notice if an airport-related use came up for that property.

MAPS President Karen Rau said that if and when they are able to move into the old terminal, it would still be a temporary solution.

“I just want to make sure that everybody understands that this is temporary. This is absolutely temporary,” Rau said. “We’re grateful that we have this opportunity, but it’s temporary. People need to understand we still need to raise money for a new facility.”

Rau added that the terminal would not meet the full scope of MAPS’ needs in terms of capacity to house animals.