Commissioners ask more conditions as 9 Line Holdings seeks to change USFS hangar lease; talks postponed for negotiation

A months‑long negotiation over a privately‑led development at Morgan County Airport moved into detailed discussion at the commission work session after 9 Line Holdings (identified in the meeting as the developer; principal referred to in public as Buster) presented an alternative to an earlier US Forest Service plan.

What was proposed: 9 Line presented a site plan for a cluster of aviation‑related hangars and tenant spaces (a 60×60 typical hangar footprint plus smaller community/aero‑club space). The developer said the current Forest Service plan is not moving forward and offered a new plan that would create multiple small commercial aviation spaces that could support avionics, maintenance, paint, an aero club and short‑term aviation‑oriented lodging; the developer detailed investment already made (hangar exterior, underground utilities) and estimated county revenue under Plan B would exceed the earlier Forest Service scenario because of increased taxable building area and potential sales tax from onsite businesses.

County concerns and requested changes: Commissioners said they want stronger safeguards to prevent Phase 2 from becoming a private‑storage area that replicates the hangar‑by‑hangar private usage in Phase 1. Specific requests included: a requirement that any sublease or lease assignment of an entire Phase‑2 parcel receive prior written county approval; explicit prohibitions on subleasing solely for private aircraft storage; clear definition in the lease of permissible airport‑related business activities; and consideration of a modest county revenue share, or renegotiation, if a lessee subleases an entire Phase‑2 parcel for a commercial enterprise that generates sales tax.

Financial terms and rates: The existing Forest Service lease structure used a relatively low square‑foot rent (the USFS arrangement in the existing lease referenced 24¢/sq ft in earlier drafts). Commissioners and staff discussed whether the county’s ground/building leases are low by comparison with other regional airports (several nearby smaller airports quoted in staff research ranged roughly 12¢–25¢/sq ft and Ogden was cited at ~68¢/sq ft). The commission asked staff to propose market‑oriented rent adjustments, and to craft lease language that distinguishes private storage from commercial aviation businesses that produce sales tax and broader public benefit.

Process and next steps: Commissioners directed the county attorney and airport staff to negotiate lease language with 9 Line that includes the county protections requested; they postponed final action on the amended lease to allow those negotiations and instructed staff to return with a revised lease and legal descriptions for five separable parcels (one parcel was described as earmarked for an aero‑club). The county also asked staff to explore Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant opportunities that could fund a parallel taxiway stub and ramp tie‑in to reduce taxiway congestion; the county would pursue FAA/state grant funding for those airfield improvements if feasible.

Ending: Commissioners emphasized they want a fair commercial arrangement that prevents private gatekeeping of airport ground but supports aviation businesses that bring jobs and sales tax. The commission voted to postpone approval so staff and the developer could negotiate terms and return with a final, conditioned lease.