County Board OKs Airport Request
Commissioners approved request from Airport Authority for $250,000. Glenn M. Sides
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Commissioner Craig Kennedy didn’t wait for the power point presentation.
The newest member of the Moore County Board of Commissioners speeded up the discussion Tuesday when the Airport Authority made a request for special funding. His effort resulted in a unanimous vote to appropriate $250,000 as the local match to draw down a $2.5 million block grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation.
“Don’t put them in a bind,” Kennedy said before making a motion to appropriate the matching funds.
The “bind” is the time element in which the Moore County Airport must upgrade runways and a ramp as well as make other improvements in time for the back-to-back U.S. Open golf tournaments scheduled here in 2014. The $2.5 million is needed to expand the ramp, extend one runway and grade another runway, all improvements required to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. The airport will be required to use its own cash on hand to pay for improvements to buildings and other facilities.
Airport Manager Ron Maness was prepared to make a presentation when Kennedy asked if it was the same program presented to the commissioners at a budget planning retreat in January. Maness said it contained the same information.
Kennedy then suggested that the board skip the presentation and engage in discussion of the authority request. He recently toured the airport and said he was impressed with its facilities and its staff.
But first, Kennedy wanted to make it clear that he has no personal obligation to the airport or authority members. A licensed pilot, Kennedy said no one knew him at the airport when he first ran for office but a visit to the facility sold him on its qualifications.
“I’m amazed at the talent we have at that airport - their expertise and their integrity,” he said.
Kennedy pointed out that time is of the essence in accepting the state grant, which is available to Moore County because another county was unable or unwilling to take advantage of the offer.
His fellow commissioners agreed that the cause is worthy but did engage in discussion about the best source of funding without affecting the General Fund, which pays for regular county operations.
“I support the airport. My father-in-law used to serve on your board,” said Commissioner Tim Lea. “This is not about you guys not doing a good job.”
But Lea went on to point out that county employees have gone two years without raises and the shaky economy has required sharp budget cuts.
“We have an obligation to our taxpayers. We have a responsibility to them to try to treat everyone fairly,” Lea said.
Lea suggested that the appropriation be in the form of a loan, rather than an outright allocation.
“The airport belongs to the people of Moore County. If we lend them money, it is basically taxpayers lending money to taxpayers,” argued Kennedy.
Maness added that, even with the grant and the county money, the airport must find the money to make other improvements to facilities.
“It is part of the county infrastructure. It’s going to pay huge dividends in the future,” Maness said. “This is a much needed infrastructure improvement.”
Board Chairman Nick Picerno asked why the allocation could not be in the form of a loan. He asked if it would be legal to make arrangements for repayment of the loan if other funds become available earlier.
“That 500 acres belongs to all of us. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Commissioner Larry Caddell.
Caddell cited a tourism report showing that every person staying at the hotel in Pinehurst spends an average of $750 daily while staying in Moore County. He specified that this is per person, not per family or business group.
The commissioners engaged in further debate about the source of funding with County Manager Cary McSwain and County Attorney Misty Leland.
Prior to the meeting, the county administration had secured the latest financial reports from the airport and had prepared a set of options for matching funds. Assets are valued at $2.1 million, including buildings and land, but cash on hand is limited. The 2010-11 budget is $3 million, with $761,259 needed to provide a three-month cash flow for operations. It was estimated that the airport could raise $230,943 net from investments. Interest rates on savings are typically low for the current economic situation.
Maness said the airport budget has already been sharply cut with major personnel working on a part-time basis, including himself and assistant manager Carol Thomas.
The board’s options included a loan from the capital reserve fund with a negotiated interest rate, a match from the capital reserve fund or denial of the request for matching funds.
Finally, at the recommendation of Commissioner Jimmy Melton, the board decided to clarify the original motion.
Kennedy amended the original motion by calling for adoption of a resolution approving the appropriation with the $250,000 to come from a source to be determined, but one that would have no impact on taxpayers. Caddell made the second, and approval was unanimous.
The resolution enables Maness and Thomas to proceed with acceptance of the block grant and completion of administrative details by the deadline in April.
Because the airport no longer has airline passenger service, it does not qualify for substantial grants from the FAA, the source of millions of dollars for runway, traffic pattern, property acquisition, fencing and other safety improvements in recent years. The airport must rely now on limited funding available through the N.C. Department of Transportation Aviation Division. Although owned by the county, it operates without grants from the county.
In addition to Maness and Thomas, John Owen, chairman of the Airport Authority, and former County Commissioner Colin McKenzie were present to support the airport request.
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Comments
None 2 years, 3 months ago
Total Salaries and benefits FY 08/09 FY 09/10 FY 2011 Budget Salaries $565,518.21 $450,940.16 $532,245.00 Benefits $56,300.04 $46,286.28 $69,935.00 Health Insurance $104,000.00 $71,750.00 $42,000.00 OPEB $41,793.00 $30,004.00 $40,000.00 Total Salaries & Benefits $767,611.25 $598,980.44 $684,180.00
Perhaps taxpayers should reconsider where tax dollars are being spent. State transportation grants come from the taxpayers as well...where's the TEA Party ACTIVISTS?
None 2 years, 3 months ago
Just a few facts about taxpayers' expenses to operate the county airport....Another example of tax and spend politics in Carthage.
None 2 years, 3 months ago
Airport Owned assets @ cost are: Land …………………………………………….$ 142,952 Bldg ……………………………………………..$ 2,144,128 Total Airport owned assets at cost $ 2,286,180
Airport Owned assets @ value are: Land……………………………………………….$ 142,952 Bldg……………………………………………….$ 1,975,236 Total Airport owned assets at value $ 2,117,288
Airport debt on Hangar is $1,606,000 as of 6/30/10.
( Yearly P&I payments total $172,000/year )
And the beat goes on ... spend ~ spend ~ spend ~ spend....
None 2 years, 3 months ago
Before the tax and spend Republican Liberals spring to attention, the information pasted above is all public records...anyone want a copy? Just let me know. You will feel better about ...conservative... county government and the efforts of those who support out-of-control spending to bankrupt Poorer County.
(Probably insufficient equity to obtain bank loan installment) BTW: a direct quote from the document.
None 2 years, 3 months ago
“I’m amazed at the talent we have at that airport,” said Commissioner Craig Kennedy, who praised airport personnel for integrity and expertise".
I am amazed as well at the salaries those folks are making compared to other industry in Poorer County. Integrity and expertise does come at a price....
Bflat 2 years, 3 months ago
They're getting ready for the tourists to arrive for the US Open in 2014. That airport has no room to expand, so I really wonder what the future of it will be after all the money has been poured into it. There was talk of moving it to the west where there would be more room for it to expand. Sanford did that years ago.
OldPilot 2 years, 3 months ago
1) There really is no place to move the airport where any infrastructure exists to support it. 2) Building a new airport would be much more expensive than maintaining and improviong the existing airport. 3) Toda: what point are you trying to make other than the fact that you are unhappy and want to complain about everything? You don't like the fact that the airport exists? You don't think that the airport is an important asset to the county? In that case don't use it. Those of us that do likely believe some of the tax dollars you consider well spent are wasted but we write the check. Such is the nature of democracy, although you are entitled to squeak away to your hearts content if it makes you feel better.
None 2 years, 3 months ago
OldPilot February 2, 2011 at 8:37 p.m.
Contrar' Old Pilot ~ I see where your loyalty lies with out of control spending at the county level. Those tax and spend Liberal Republicans that TEA PARTY ACTIVIST complianed about prior to the November election.
" the fact that you are unhappy and want to complain about everything?" Not so old wise one...just spending taxpayers money without hesitation, direction, or without a plan. I complain about wasteful spending, poor decisions, and people who mistreat or abuse animals. I don't like crooked politicians who stump on conservatism and spend like there is no tomorrow but a fabeled money tree growing somewhere in Carthage.
I don't like politicans who publically say they work for the will of the people and never listen to the people who pay the bills, while demonstrating their lack of interest by voting on a 55.3 million dollar bond without the support of the voters.
"we write the check." you are correct, we the taxpayers write the check....and one can catch a taxi to RDU as so many who live here do from time to time. And ~ no I don't use the airport; never have in 62 years.
None 2 years, 3 months ago
Remember the last golf tournament when the state paid the contractor a million dollar bonus to complete US 1 before the tournament and traffic was directed to take the Carthage exit in Tramway just past the modular home place on US 1 south? Now that is good planning...Doesn’t the hotels have shuttles running to and from RDU daily?
How much taxpayer’s money has been wasted on that airport over the years? What happened to the commuter flights…no business? It's more about politics than a real need for residents of this county not just those who can afford an airplane!
OneNativfe 2 years, 3 months ago
I thought the whole reason for moving NC 22 was to get a certain distance from the end of the runway. The Whispering Pines end can't be extended so am I to assume that lengthening will be on the traffic circle end? The whole moving NC 22 project was bogus anyway. Now we see that there may have been an ulterior motive.
OldPilot 2 years, 3 months ago
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OldPilot 2 years, 3 months ago
People who don't like airports are free to use other tax supported modes of transportation: taxes support roads, so drive yourself, take the bus, or take a tax supported train. Airports are a vital part of the transportation system of the country, or put another way, try running the country without airports.