Fiscal court co‑sponsors airport FAA grant, adopts airport board ordinance in second reading

At its Aug. 7 special meeting, the Fletcher County Fiscal Court voted to co‑sponsor a Federal Aviation Administration grant application and authorized the county judge to execute necessary documents to support the airport project. The court also adopted on second reading an ordinance to establish the county airport board. Court members were told the co‑sponsorship agreement is needed as part of the FAA grant application the airport board is pursuing. The agreement says the fiscal court will support the airport board’s efforts and would cause funds to the airport board as part of its work on the project; the court voted to authorize the judge to sign the agreement. During discussion, members said the planned airport could be retrofitted for drone activity and that including infrastructure for drone operations could give the county an economic development advantage. A place name mentioned in the discussion was Lake Chadwick in the context of regional benefits. The court then moved to the ordinance establishing the airport board and adopted it on second reading by recorded voice vote. Members indicated the airport and related board regulations would guide future airport property and operations decisions. The court did not specify a construction timeline or a final grant dollar amount at the meeting; staff said the airport board and grant process will proceed under FAA rules and county oversight.