MacArthur to get commercial radio station

Stay tuned.

Long Island MacArthur Airport will soon be home to a commercial radio station, town officials said.

At its regular meeting last week, the Islip Town Board approved several agenda items affecting the Ronkonkoma airport, including one that will allow Supervisor Tom Croci to enter into a contract with JVC Broadcasting to host a 24-hour radio station in an empty baggage services office in the airport's main terminal.

Airport Commissioner Robert Schaefer said JVC Broadcasting would be offered a five-year license agreement with a five-year renewal option. He said the station is scheduled to air by Labor Day.

"I'm trying to get activity into the airport," Schaefer said. "I want people to come into the airport even though they're not flying."

The town board also approved airport maintenance and improvement resolutions at its meeting. The board voted to authorize a $30,000 contract with Holbrook-based Savik & Murray, LLP to remove trees from around runaways.

They also approved a pair of resolutions to hire JKL Engineering of Maryland to design a new airfield electrical vault at the airport, expected to cost $312,791, and to design three taxiways for $319,279.