Hamilton County Council approves real estate purchase resolution, OKs $4.5 million airport appropriation amid resident concerns

The Hamilton County Council on Wednesday approved a resolution authorizing a real estate purchase agreement and separately approved an additional appropriation of $4,500,000 identified by the commissioners for the county’s planned acquisition tied to an airport, actions the council took during a public hearing on appropriations.

The measures drew a lengthy public comment from Pam Williams, an Adams Township resident, who said she learned of the possible purchase only recently and urged the council to provide more public information. “I don't trust you,” Williams told the council, saying she was concerned the county’s purchase would increase aircraft traffic and change the rural character of north Hamilton County.

The council opened a public hearing on additional appropriations, and among the items approved during that hearing were a $4,500,000 additional appropriation for the commissioners’ office described as for the airport and several other fund appropriations. The council also approved a separate resolution, filed as Resolution 05072025-01, authorizing a real estate purchase agreement related to county business that night.

In response to Williams’s questions, a council member identified during the meeting as the main proponent said the intent of acquiring the airport was “to preserve it for into the future the way it sits right now” and to ensure smaller training aircraft would have space to operate as growth pushes activity at the county’s other airport. The council member said having a government entity own the property would reduce the risk of the land being redeveloped into housing.

Williams said her property lines align with the runway and that she has observed training flights and occasional low overflights. She asked whether the county intended to expand operations or permit larger industrial aviation uses; the council member said the meeting was not the time for a detailed Q&A and directed Williams to follow up with county officials offline and via the county website for more information.

Other appropriations and transfers approved during the same hearing included (as announced on the record): a General Fund request for additional appropriations totaling $12,014,000 (including transfers and auditor items), $4,000,000 for a county building, $3,500,000 for a Relay Center under council appropriations, a Local Health Services Fund appropriation of $615,223.27, Parks and Recreation operating and capital appropriations of $122,960 and $413,308 respectively, a treasurer office appropriation of $14,000 and a small grant transfer from the Duke Energy Foundation of $215.86. The council approved each item by voice vote with “Aye” recorded; no roll-call vote with individual member votes was read on the record for these motions.

At the start of the meeting the council confirmed a quorum (Ken Alexander, Brad Beamer, Tim Griffin, Sue Mackey, Amy Masalami, Steve Nation and Mark Hall were listed present on the roll call). After the public hearing closed, the council recorded no further public comments and adjourned.

The resolution approving the real estate purchase agreement was identified on the record as Resolution 05072025-01. The council indicated additional details and contact information would be posted to the county website and that residents could follow up with county staff for more information about the intended use and any future permitting or operational plans.