Extension of Fayette County airport hangar lease denied

The Fayette County Airport Authority board denied a request Wednesday from the attorney representing Terry and Diane Kriss, asking for a 30-day extension of a lease on a hangar at the Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport that has been involved in recent litigation.

Following a brief executive session, the request was denied 4-1 with authority member Fred K. Davis voting against it. Authority members Terry Shallenberger, Jesse Wallace, Todd Radolec and Myrna Giannopoulas supported it.

The insurance company for the authority recently filed court papers that claim it should not have to insure the defendants in a lawsuit brought by the Dunbar Township couple who allege county officials have harassed them over more than a decade in an attempt to devalue their historic property.

Earlier this year, the Kriss couple sued the authority; its board chairman, Shallenberger; county commissioners Vincent A. Vicites and Vincent Zapotosky; and Sara Rosiek, director of the county Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development. The Krisses' suit, filed in the federal court, did not name Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink, a Republican, as a defendant.

Their filing alleged that various county officials have been trying to devalue the historic Isaac Meason House the Krisses have owned since 1995. The airport authority and Shallenberger were named because the couple has a hangar at the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport.

They were evicted during a meeting several years ago, after a former employee at the airport made allegations that Terry Kriss threatened her. The allegations were discussed during a public meeting of the authority's board despite a request that it be discussed privately during an executive session.

The airport authority is covered by Old Republic Insurance Co., and the county officials have insurance coverage through the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool.