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Cleveland leaders tell tenants no decision yet on hangar rent increases after heated public comments
Summary
Tenants pressed city leaders July 16 about rumored hangar rent hikes and comparisons to Conroe and Hooks airports; Mayor Danny Lee and city officials said no formal decision had been made and described a routine fee review process.
Tenants at Cleveland Municipal Airport sharply challenged the suggestion that hangar rents would be raised to match larger airports, and city leaders told the airport advisory board on July 16 that no formal decision has been made.
"We're not gonna come in and just charge some outrageous fee. No," Mayor Danny Lee told the crowd, urging patience as the new city administration reviews airport operations and fees. City Manager Lee Tipton added, "I don't know where Conroe came into the equation as far as being looked at as a market value for us. That is not on the list." The comments were prompted by multiple tenants who said they had been told rents might be increased to match Conroe or David Wayne Hooks Airport.
Tenants described the airport as a small, non‑tower general aviation field and said they would be harmed by a large rent increase. Johnny Woodson, a long‑time tenant, said pilots will "go a 100 miles to save a penny," arguing that any increase would push tenants away. Several tenants also asked for clear advance notice and a transparent process.
Airport Director Erin Gordon told the board that fee reviews are a normal municipal process. "It's a normal process that's done everywhere, and that's what we'll do," she said. The board discussed reinstating a consumer‑price‑index clause from an earlier tenant agreement that would limit annual rent increases to 5% and give tenants predictability; no formal motion was adopted.
The advisory board chair noted that the board has not taken a vote and urged that comparisons to Conroe — a towered, multi‑FBO airport with different services — are inappropriate for a small, uncontrolled airport. Several board members recommended retaining a clause tying any future increases to the Urban Consumer Price Index, capped at 5%, to provide stability for tenants.
No change to the city's master fee schedule was proposed or enacted at the meeting. The mayor and staff asked tenants to submit specific questions and said staff would bring any formal fee recommendations to the city council for public consideration.
The board subsequently proposed, as a discussion item, to request no increase for the upcoming fiscal year; members did not move that proposal to a formal vote at this meeting.
