Pickens County commissioners approve resolution asking state to dissolve Airport Authority

The Pickens County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a resolution asking the state legislature to repeal the Pickens County Airport Authority Act and dissolve the Pickens County Airport Authority, transferring the authority's transferable or assumable leases, contracts and obligations to county oversight.

The action, introduced by the commission chair during the board's February meeting, directs county staff to transmit the approved resolution to state Representative Rick Jaspers for introduction to the General Assembly. "This gives us the ability to have direct oversight to be involved in overseeing that," the chair said while explaining the county's intent to move airport oversight into a county department and work toward making the airport self-sustaining.

The resolution responds in part to ongoing costs: the chair said the airport currently requires a portion of the county general fund to pay for maintenance and operation and noted a multi-year construction contract that has continued for about four years. The county plans to place airport operations under an existing county department (the board discussed competing departmental fits) while establishing an advisory board to retain input from pilots and the aviation community.

During the public-comment portion of the meeting an airport user urged the commissioners to host a focus group or town-hall-style meeting at the airport so users could provide direct input. "I was hoping that maybe you would consider a focus group or a combo meeting with users of the airport so that you can hear — give them an opportunity to tell you what anybody can see," the commenter said. The chair replied that the commission plans to schedule a town-hall meeting after the governor signs the repeal, likely in the summer quarter, and that the county will consider holding it at an airport hangar or other on-site location.

County staff told the board that existing airport employees are already on the county payroll system but currently report to the airport authority; dissolving the authority would place supervisory oversight with county staff and formally fold those employees into a county department. The chair said the county's long-term objective is to move the airport toward a self-sustaining enterprise fund that does not require continuous general-fund support.

The board approved the resolution by voice vote; the chair noted the document requires signatures from all three commissioners before transmission to Representative Jaspers for legislative action.

If the General Assembly passes a repeal and the governor signs it, the county intends to adopt an ordinance establishing an airport advisory board and to manage contracts and finances directly until the airport reaches a self-sustaining status.