Knox County commission reapproves $9.68 million in amended airport projects

At a special meeting of the Knox County Commission's Court, commissioners voted to set the bottom-line amended total for airport projects at $9,683,402 for the 2022'2024 amended budgets.

Staff said the projects had been previously approved but were returning to the committee because funding allocations changed. "What I am saying is the bottom line number of 9,683,402 for the 2022 to the 2024 amended budgets of the airport," Kathy (S8) said, explaining the change reflected adjustments in FAA and other funding buckets rather than new projects.

The projects discussed included the Dinner Lane property purchase and subsequent leases of four hangars, vehicle and aircraft charging stations (two vehicle chargers and an aircraft charging queue), and environmental assessments for runway work. Staff described the charging infrastructure as intended to eventually support unmanned aircraft operations to deliver goods to nearby islands; staff noted existing regional electronic aircraft in Cape Air's fleet but said none were being relocated to Knox County at this time.

Commissioners debated whether to delay for line-item funding detail or to approve the single bottom-line figure now. One member said the committee could delay to get a breakdown of how the county's share changed, while staff said the projects were largely complete or in progress and that the vote is largely retrospective. After discussion, a motion to approve the stated total was moved and seconded and accepted by the commission.

The meeting record does not list a roll-call tally for this specific airport vote in the transcript. The commission moved immediately to subsequent budget items after accepting the motion.