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Sibanye Stillwater proposes buying or leasing 40-foot strip next to Columbus airport; board refers to engineer
Summary
Sibanye Stillwater Mine asked to purchase or lease a roughly 40-foot strip of abandoned alley next to the airport’s west fence; the Joint City-County Airport Board agreed to send the request to the engineer to determine height and fencing restrictions and revisit the matter at its next meeting.
Kevin Mitchum, representing Sibanye Stillwater Mine, told the Joint City-County Airport Board on Sept. 9 that the company is proposing to purchase or lease a roughly 40-foot portion of a former alley/roadway adjacent to the airport’s west fence. Mitchum said the alley had been abandoned by the City of Columbus and that when abandonment occurred the mine became owner to the middle of the road; the remaining strip is what the company seeks to acquire.
Board members raised safety and operational concerns about the proposal, including the need for pedestrian gate access at the west corner, a requirement that any new fencing not tie into the airport’s existing fence line, and restrictions on the height of buildings or equipment stored immediately west of the airfield. No formal action was taken; the board agreed the request would be forwarded to the airport engineer for review of height limitations and other technical restrictions and that the matter would return to the board at a future meeting.
The discussion did not include a vote or agreement on sale or lease terms. The board’s referral to the engineer signals that staff and consultants will determine what physical or regulatory limits apply before the board considers any lease or conveyance.
