The Town of Stephenville has decided to provide snow clearing to keep the runways at Stephenville Airport open – that’s despite the fact that the airport’s owner owes the town half a million dollars in back taxes.

Owner Carl Dymond first came forward in 2021, indicating that he was interested in taking over the airport from the town and operating it under what he called the Dymond Group of Companies. However, since officially taking ownership of the airport property from the town in 2023 for one dollar, none of his initial development ambitions have come to fruition.

Dymond is now asking the town to plow the runways on a cost-recovery basis, billing the airport at cost, while he orders parts for two snow plows.

Town councillor Darren Roberts told council that without municipal help, the runways would be closed and that’s a public safety matter.

He says having the runways open could save lives because flights can’t land in emergency situations if the runways are not clear. He says the decision was not taken lightly and council agreed to plow the runways in the best interest of residents and the traveling public.)

Mayor Tom Rose, when questioned about the future of the airport, says he remains confident that Dymond will make good on paying his back taxes.

“I’m still very confident,” says Rose because of a variety of major projects on the horizon that he says will benefit the region and the airport.