Airport lease extended one year

BERRYVILLE -- Members of the Carroll County Airport Commission moved one step closer to finalizing their deal on a lease buy-back plan when they agreed to let the lease holder retain possession of the hanger on the land for one year.

The commissioners have a signed agreement to buy out the remainder of a 99-year lease on 2.5 acres of county-owned airport land with a hanger that is currently in the hands of Michael Coglan. The history of the lease is complicated, dating back to the 1980s and changing hands over the years.

At a special meeting last Friday, the commissioners voted to lease the hanger back to Coglan for one year at zero cost to give him time to clear it out -- or return with a business plan. It was stipulated that any business that operates out of the hanger must comply with minimum standards.

The commissioners expect to complete the buy-back deal in the next several months after nearly a dozen years of negotiations. The buy-back purchase price is set at $201,000. A Federal Aviation Association (FAA) grant in the amount of $164,000 was received toward that goal and $137,000 remains after surveys and other pre-sale expenses were paid.

The commissioners went to the quorum court in January to seek a line of credit so they can complete the purchase, saying it is intended as a back-up should their other funding options fall through. Those include another FAA grant, getting general improvement funds from the state legislature, or raising the money themselves.

At that meeting, Dave Teigen, chairman of the airport commission, answered questions about the leased land, saying it is located south of the terminal, it is the logical place to build new hangers, and, because of its lay of the land, it would provide most of the fill-dirt required when it comes time to expand the runway -- an expansion that is necessary to accommodate small jet traffic.

Airport Manager Sheila Evans answered questions regarding the airport's value to the people of the county -- above and beyond its value to pilots and the local tourist industry.

Evans said the airport brought in $2.5 million in grant money over the previous two years, money that was awarded to local firms and stayed in the community.

The JPs gave their nod of approval for the line of credit, saying an ordinance would need to be drafted for consideration at their next meeting.

Airport commissioners will meet again at noon on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the airport and the quorum court will meet at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Berryville's county courthouse.

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