Northampton County Council and the Save Braden Airpark Initiative are hoping that Braden Airpark will not be sold.

Councilwoman Peg Ferraro and other council members are supporting a Sept. 19 resolution that urges County Executive John Stoffa to take legal action as is deemed appropriate to prevent the closure and/or sale of Braden Airpark by the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA).

Stoffa said that after discussion with the LNAA members, he has reached a tentative agreement that LNAA will make no decision to sell the airport until March 2014.

Stoffa explained that the additional six months allows time to explore more possibilities to keep the airpark, and it also allows a new county executive and council to review any and all options.

"I don't want to sue the airport. They can't afford it. We can't afford it," Stoffa added.

County council's solicitor Philip Lauer in researching the LNAA's articles of incorporation has found it clearly stated that the LNAA's purpose is to operate and maintain lands and buildings through ownership or leasing for public use and for revenue-producing purposes. The articles include Lehigh Valley International Airport, and/or Queen City Airport, and/or Braden Airpark as part of these facilities.

While LNAA has the authority to buy and sell real estate, the threat of selling Braden has made it difficult to locate interested parties who might lease the airpark.

In speaking for the Save Braden Airpark Initiative, Robert Brown told council members that with community outreach efforts, funders and a new fixed base aviation operator, Braden could be a revenue-producing community asset again.

The airpark encountered financial difficulty after Moyer Aviation moved its operation to Mount Pocono. Brown said when the lease terms were on a yearly basis all the LNAA had to do was collect the rent. Lease terms went to a monthly basis and Moyer Aviation found a new location.

The Forks Township airpark, which is located across the street from Merchants Bank and near Weis Markets on Sullivan Trail, provides the community with a facility for everything from training young aviators to hosting Young Eagles events.

Council's next regular meeting is at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 3 at Northampton County Courthouse's third floor, 669 Washington St., Easton.