Oak Ridge City Council approved a resolution directing staff to explore alternate sites for the Oak Ridge General Aviation Airport and to outline next steps for disposition of properties the city acquired at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP). During debate, the council amended the resolution to require the city manager to present the disposition options at an upcoming work session so council could deliberate on sale mechanisms and deed restrictions before marketing properties.

City Manager Hayman and staff briefed council about the background work: an earlier study examined potential airport relocation needs tied to a major state investment, and staff said they had consulted the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders during the review. Staff told council that preliminary exploration of alternate sites can proceed using an existing Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant that funds preliminary work; any significant consultant contracts would be returned to council for authorization. Assistant city staff clarified that one of the parcels (donated by GSA) will require deed restriction work before disposition.

Council member Smith raised concerns about disposition methods and recommended the council consider negotiated sales or other mechanisms rather than automatically using sealed bids or auctions; staff agreed to schedule a work session to review transfer options. Council amended the resolution during the meeting to have the city manager bring a discussion of specific properties to a future work session rather than authorize a single sale mechanism in the resolution.

A member of the public, Cole Closer, urged council to consider existing regional airports and to coordinate with the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and Rockwood Aviation rather than pursue another new airport site.

Council voted to approve the amended resolution; members noted the distinction between a preliminary site exploration (funded by an existing ARC grant) and a deeper, costed study that would require further council approval.