County advances airport RFP, tenants decry barricade and through‑the‑fence terms

Pickens County commissioners on April 9 advanced plans to solicit proposals to develop and lease hangar space at the county airport and approved a tenant site‑use change and a sublease, even as multiple aircraft owners publicly criticized a newly erected barricade and county terms they say threaten a long‑standing through‑the‑fence operation.

The most immediate action was a presentation of an RFP process from county staff and the airport engineer (Lead Edge Design Group). Bill, the staff presenter, described a draft RFP that would seek proposals for roughly 12–20 hangars in a designated area west of the runway, with proposed building footprints ranging from roughly 50x60 to 150x100 and a 100‑point scoring system that weighs financial plan, community economic impact, and proposer experience. The RFP target release date is June 1, with a target award on July 20, county staff said.

Why it matters: Tenants and pilots at the meeting said the county’s current actions—particularly a barricade that prevents access to the Thompson East hangars—have already displaced aircraft and risk removing hangar capacity before the county develops alternatives. Several speakers linked the barricade to a county through‑the‑fence agreement they described as non‑negotiable and financially punitive.

During the new‑business block the board approved a staff recommendation allowing Whitport Aviators, the tenant at Hangar H12, to add tie‑down concrete pads and approved a sublease for Hangar H02 from Ron Arnold to Tim Bled. Both motions drew unanimous approval with no recorded opposition. Staff also described a surplus‑equipment listing and a larger RFP process that will return to the board for formal authorization once final documents are prepared.

Voices from the airport: Pilots and hangar tenants used the public‑comment period to lay out the dispute. Robert Vulk, who said he has been a pilot and airplane owner for 52 years and based at the county airport for 24 years, said the barricade is blocking “mine and 14 other airplanes” and alleged the county’s agreement "included three impossible conditions," including a taxiway construction requirement with an estimated $3.3 million fill cost and an annual runway access fee of $31,000. "Would you sign the agreement?" Vulk asked the room.

Lonnie Reese, another tenant, said the county offered a one‑time exit that does not allow a return to the Thompson hangars and warned that with zero available hangar space at Pickens County Airport many owners will have to relocate aircraft to nearby fields. David Wilson, who said he has an airplane based in the Thompsons’ hangars, said the Thompsons have operated for decades without safety incidents and criticized county taxiways he said do not meet FAA guidance.

Deborah V. disputed county statements that the Thompson property lacked clear title and called the county’s proposed requirements "designed to put the Thompsons out of business," while other commenters invoked state statutes and expressed concern about county compliance with airport fixed‑base‑operator standards.

What the board did: The board did not reverse the barricade during the meeting. It approved the H12 site‑use change and the H02 sublease and scheduled the RFP timeline described by staff. Commissioners did not provide a substantive public rebuttal to the claims during the public‑comment period beyond standard procedural responses and closing the comment period; no enforcement or immediate operational change was announced at the meeting.

Documented actions: Staff said the RFP would not bind the board to award a contract and that the final RFP and criteria would be finalized before release; the board approved the H12 site‑use change and the H02 sublease on motions and seconds.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the RFP documents for the June 1 targeted release and will return to the board with the finalized documents and a motion to authorize issuance. Tenants and other speakers at the meeting said they will seek clarity and remedies from the county regarding the barricade and the terms of any through‑the‑fence agreement.

Reported at the meeting: public comments alleging county tactics to devalue Thompson property, staff presentations of the draft RFP and scoring criteria, approval of H12 site‑use change and H02 sublease, and a plan to issue an RFP in June.