Meriwether County transfers two airport parcels to airport authority to improve grant prospects

The Meriwether County Board of Commissioners on June 10 authorized county legal counsel to prepare documents transferring two parcels currently titled to the board to the Meriwether County Airport Authority.

County staff told commissioners the two parcels sit on airport property and that ownership by the Airport Authority would better position the airport to pursue federal grant funding and expand hangar and infrastructure capacity. “Transferring these parcels to the Airport Authority will better position the airport authority to pursue and manage grant funding opportunities tied to the airport,” staff said.

The board discussed FAA and Federal Aviation Administration grant assurances and how consolidated ownership can affect eligibility and grant size. A speaker summarized the federal grants framework, saying federal funding typically covers a large share of airport projects and that consolidated airport ownership can improve a grant application’s competitiveness. Commissioners asked about a narrow strip on the opposite side of Highway 27 shown on a parcel map; staff said the map reflected FAA-identified parcels and that finer mapping would be confirmed in the legal work.

Commissioner (unnamed) moved to authorize legal counsel to prepare the documents and to authorize the chairman or vice chairman to sign. The motion passed after the board voted in favor.

The transfer will allow the Airport Authority to apply as the property owner for grants; staff said doing so would not remove past FAA grant obligations attached to the land. County legal counsel and airport staff will finalize the conveyance documents and report back to the board.

The county clerk scheduled follow-up items as legal staff prepares the deeds and supporting documents ahead of execution by the chairman or vice chairman.