Pickens County creates airport advisory board, appoints initial members and declines state fence contract for now

The Pickens County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance establishing a seven-member airport advisory board to advise the board on operations at the Pickens County Airport and appointed an initial set of members. The board also decided not to execute a state contract to accept $750,000 in matching Georgia Airport Aid funding for perimeter fencing, citing competing capital priorities.

"The governor did sign that into law," Planning and Development Director Bill Wood said, referring to the state action that dissolved the former Pickens County Airport Authority and returned operational control to the county. Wood described the advisory board as a mechanism for "competent and qualified advisers" to guide county oversight of airport operations.

Chairman Chris presented seven recommended initial appointees and asked the board to approve a one-year term for the group's first members. The slate the chairman presented included Mark Christiansen (to serve as chair), Commissioner Josh Tippens (to serve as the county's representative on the advisory board), Tom Gray (pilot), Kevin Wunder (hangar owner), Wallace Reese (pilot), Tim Stanfield (pilot) and Wendell Turner (pilot). The chairman also recommended Stacy McCour be appointed staff secretary to support the board.

The board approved the ordinance establishing the advisory board and approved the recommended initial members. "I will present my list of seven, so that you can do and then now also in the ordinance, it does state that the board would appoint a secretary to serve," the chairman said when introducing the slate.

Separately, commissioners considered a state Department of Transportation contract that would have provided $750,000 in Georgia Airport Aid toward a $1,000,000 perimeter fence project, leaving a local match of $250,000. The state contract would span two fiscal years. After discussion about capital priorities at the airport (including terminal construction and apron work), Chairman Chris moved that the county decline to sign the contract now. "I personally am of the opinion that we need to focus on what we've got," he said. The board voted to decline the contract rather than accept the state funding at this time.

Airport Manager Alexis and county staff were available to implement the advisory board and to manage the next steps for airport capital planning; staff said accepting the state fencing funds would obligate the county to the local share and FAA requirements. The advisory board ordinance requires one advisory seat to be a commissioner and at least three members to be licensed pilots; the newly appointed roster meets those criteria. The advisory board will meet quarterly and will be supported by a staff secretary.