City approves fee resolution updating airport hangar rates and columbarium pricing

The Augusta City Council approved Resolution 2025-24, a revision to the city fee schedule that includes changes to Augusta Municipal Airport hangar fees and establishes prices for cemetery columbarium niches.

Airport manager Randy told council the changes aim to make the airport financially self-sustaining and bring rates closer to comparable regional airports. Staff estimated the update could produce about $25,000 in additional revenue and noted a 17-person waiting list for hangars, which staff said should reduce the risk of tenant loss from modest rent increases (SEG 776–804, 892–899).

Randy and staff discussed implementing an updated month-to-month lease and moving to electronic payments for hangar tenants to simplify collections (SEG 901–908). The council discussed implementation timing and lease language; staff said month-to-month leases historically have been managed administratively and that new tenants could be subject to the revised leases when they sign on (SEG 821–833, 1020–1026).

The fee schedule also sets columbarium niche prices tied to the cemetery ordinance discussion. Staff recommended $1,700 for a single niche and $2,500 for a double-occupancy niche; the fees were described as covering niche costs, engraving and opening/closing, with revenue split between the general fund (for operating costs) and an endowment fund for future columbarium purchases and cemetery improvements (SEG 585–597, 607–616).

Council moved to approve the fee schedule resolution for the airport and associated fees; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote (SEG 1141–1154).