Gulf County votes to advertise bids for airport access road amid FAA and funding questions

Gulf County commissioners voted Nov. 20 to advertise for bids for an airport access road, a procedural step staff said is necessary to determine construction costs and to inform any additional DOT funding requests.

County staff told the board the $1 million tranche is specifically designated for the access roadway after prior appropriations funded feasibility work and a 30% design. Staff emphasized the advertisement step is to obtain a cost estimate; the motion authorized bidding only, not construction.

Some commissioners and members of the public urged caution. One commissioner said he remained "strongly opposed to this building road" while the county lacks confirmation of FAA funding or an airport code. Local residents at the podium raised two principal concerns: whether the FAA has finalized the flight path and when property owners in that path would be notified, and how the county would balance road or airport plans with other priorities such as EMS funding.

Sarah Hodgson, who identified herself as a St. Joe Beach commissioner, asked for public disclosure about the FAA flight path and when residents would be notified. County staff said the flight-direction boundary had been placed into the FAA presentation and that materials from the earlier public workshop are available and can be provided to residents.

The motion to advertise for bids (advertise only) was made by Commissioner Macklemore, seconded by Commissioner Husband, and passed unanimously. Staff said they will return with bid results and recommended next steps, allowing the board to reconsider construction approval after seeing actual cost estimates.