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Commission approves hangar wait-list policy; airport board explores opportunity-zone filing and forms nonprofit for air show
Summary
The commission approved a $150 nonrefundable hangar waiting-list fee contingent on legal review, and discussed airport opportunity-zone paperwork and organizers’ plans to form a nonprofit to run the air show; commissioners stressed clear separation between airport management and fundraising to avoid conflicts. 5-0 votes recorded on the hangar policy.
The Franklin County Commission approved a hangar waiting-list policy that would charge a $150 nonrefundable fee to prioritize local pilots for airport hangars, contingent on County Attorney Michael Shuler’s review, the Board decided March 4.
Interim Airport Manager Steve Kirschenbaum told commissioners the policy aims to ensure hangars are used by aircraft based locally and to weed out transient renters. "If you want to be on the waiting list...it is $150 nonrefundable fee to the county to be on the waiting list," Kirschenbaum said.
Why it mattered: Commissioners framed the waiting list as an administratively simple way to keep hangars available for local users and to improve airport operations. Separately, airport leaders are pursuing an opportunity-zone designation to attract private capital for airport projects and discussed forming a local nonprofit, Friends of Apalachicola Regional Airport, to manage fundraising and an annual air show.
Conflict-of-interest caution: Commissioners, including Chairman Ricky Jones, urged a firm firewall between county staff and nonprofit fundraising. Jones told the airport manager that if a nonprofit runs the air show, the airport manager should not serve on the fundraising board: "your name does not to be involved with that board, right at all," he said, stressing the need to avoid potential Sunshine Law and conflict-of-interest exposures.
Next steps: The Board approved the hangar waiting-list policy contingent on the county attorney’s review (motion carried 5-0) and directed staff to coordinate with Team Franklin and the Airport Operations Economic Development board on opportunity-zone questions and nonprofit board membership. Kirschenbaum said he will return with identified board members and documentation of the nonprofit’s structure for commissioners’ review.
Administratively, the motion was approved with the caveat that any final policy be updated per Attorney Shuler’s recommendations and returned to the Board for confirmation.
