Clarke County Democrat

Commissioners OK airport funds on a 4-1 vote




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The Clarke County Commission Tuesday approved a $15,000 appropriation to the Southwest Alabama Airport Authority on a 4-1 vote after a lengthy discussion on the airport and the appropriation.

Commissioner Jackie Ray Rush was the lone “no” vote but two other commissioners, Stan Hutto and Bill Taylor, voiced reservations and concerns in the county being party to the new airport.

The Southwest Alabama Airport Authority was set up in 2010 as a partnership of the county and the municipalities of Grove Hill and Thomasville. The project languished for years before U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby got involved and the Federal Aviation Administration committed to the estimated $15 million project. The airport is to be built on a portion of the North Clarke Industrial Park and adjacent properties.

The federal government is to pay 90% of the cost with the state contributing 5% and the local governments picking up the other 5%, or .01666% each.

The local entities’ share has been estimated at $30,000 over a 10-year period.

Chip Harrigan, one of three authority members was at the last commission meeting and asked for $30,000 to help with land purchases and other expenses. His request was denied and that led to a meeting of the authority with the stakeholders to discuss the project last week.

At that meeting it was announced that Covid monies will pay the local governments’ share this year and no money will be needed. Even so, the authority decided to ask for $15,000 anyway to perhaps soften future appropriations.

Gil Gilmore spoke on the matter at Tuesday’s commission meeting, saying Harrigan was not able to attend.

Commissioners were miffed that they had not received regular reports on the project from their appointees (Harrigan, the county’s representative, and Gilmore, appointed as chairman by all three entities).

In a separate item, Harrigan and Gilmore were reappointed to the authority.

Gilmore agreed that was the fault of the authority but he said there was a long period of time when nothing, or little, was done. He said he had often thought the project was dead but now it is moving and the pace will likely pick up.

Commissioner Taylor said, “My idea is this $30,000 a year, for 10 years, I’d like to see that in writing.” Gilmore said that is an estimate and he said he couldn’t guarantee it. However, the feds have committed to 90% of the project.

“There’s just too many unanswered questions for me to support it,” said Commissioner Rush. He said the “general public” wasn’t for it but he didn’t specify how he knew the general public was against it.

Gilmore said public hearings were held when the authority was formed. There were comments for and against the airport then but a decision was made to move forward with the project.

“How do we undo what we’ve done,” Gilmore asked. He said the authority has incurred expenses that have to be paid.

“If the county doesn’t want to do it anymore, we can get with Bruce [Wilson, the county attorney] and see how to undo it,” Gilmore, who is also an attorney said.

Rush fumed about the state’s 5% commitment, saying there have been efforts to four lane Highway 84. He seemed to imply that 5% could be better spent on highways.

Hutto questioned how the authority was named, wondering why it wasn’t named the Clarke County Airport Authority. It was explained that the name was to reflect a wider area of usage. Camden, Pine Hill, Linden and Grove Hill all closed their smaller airports in anticipation of this one.

Gilmore said lands were looked at outside of Clarke County before the current location was selected.

There were concerns about the future cost of the airport. Gilmore said the airport would likely never run in the black. He said the three entities should expect to have to share in maintenance costs.

Commissioner Rhondel Rhone said he was concerned about the project falling apart if one entity pulled out. He said he knew from past experiences that the state and federal authorities wouldn’t look favorably on the project without local support.

“This is a great asset to this county and we need to move forward,” Rhone said.

A vote was held and four commissioners voted for the $15,000 appropriation — Hutto, Rhone, Taylor and Tyrone Moye. Rush voted no.

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