NORTH NORWICH – The 11-year-old fuel system at the county’s airport is in need of repairs and upgrades in order to meet new safety standards.

Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport Administrator Donald W. MacIntosh told lawmakers last week that an initial estimate for the work came in at $25,000 – $15,000 to meet new safety codes added since the system was installed and $10,000 for repair parts.

“I just want to put you on notice that we might be spending some money to stay in business,” he said. MacIntosh planned to request two additional proposals for the work before returning to his standing committee to formally request that the funds be taken from the airport’s $500,000 trust fund.

The airport receives 4 cents on every dollar spent for fuel at the airport. It is a significant contribution to its $24,000 annual operating budget, representing about $11,000. Revenue for T-hangar rentals totals about $12,000 per year and leasing and renting the surrounding airport-owned land raises $4,000.