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Council appoints Rick Fleming to airport board and backs study of an airport authority
Summary
The council appointed Rick Fleming to the city–county airport board for four years, approved $11,306 to trench gas to the T-hangar complex, and voted to support further study of creating an airport authority rather than immediately creating one.
The Columbus City Council appointed Rick Fleming to the city–county airport board for a four-year term and approved a Northwestern Energy customer agreement to bring natural gas to the T-hangar complex at a cost of $11,306.
Council then voted to support the city–county airport board’s effort to study creating an airport authority. Staff described the authority as a special district that would operate independently of direct city and county operation, manage airport revenues and expenses through a board of directors, and (if authorized by voters) could have taxing authority. Council members emphasized this vote authorized only further study and not the creation of the authority itself.
"The airport authority will streamline that where it becomes its own self-governing entity," a council speaker said while explaining the concept. Council members sought clarifications on funding sources and noted that existing city and county budgets would be evaluated as part of the study.
The appointments and authorizations carried on motions and roll-call affirmations recorded in the minutes. Staff will continue outreach and provide more detail on implications and any future voters' choices if the study proceeds.
