Friday, January 2, 2004
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Friday, January 2, 2004 |
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Airport Authority deals with possible loss of hotel/motel tax, search for new manager By MICHAEL BOYLAN The Peachtree City Airport Authority started the year with lots of good news, including Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Company’s relocation from Griffin to Falcon Field and the opening of the Dixie Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum nearby in April. Things changed soon thereafter. In June, the Airport Authority had airport manager Jim Savage sign an agreement to retire by the end of 2003. The retirement package would pay him a total of $40,000 over four years and while Savage signed it, it was clear neither he nor a minority of the authority agreed with the decision. The decision was made because the authority was seeking a manager that would be more involved in marketing, business development and public outreach. At the special called meeting when this was announced, pilots based at the airport and authority members Doug Fisher and Jerry Cobb spoke out against the decision. In October, the authority approved a list of capital improvement projects for the next 10 years. Among the projects in 2004 were the repaving of Stallings Road and the repair of the roof in the terminal. The project will cost $350,000 and the authority is seeking a $350,000 loan from Peachtree National Bank and revenue from the hotel/motel tax to help pay back the loan. This appeared to be no problem until recently when the hotel/motel tax revenue and how it is given to the development authority and the airport authority came into question. The airport authority is contracted to receive a percentage of the hotel/motel tax until September 2004. If they do not receive the money until the appropriate vehicle is established, the money will go into an escrow account until then. The airport authority accepted an intergovernmental agreement at their last meeting of 2003 and will go for the loan to pay for these projects. However, as of the final meeting, a successor to Savage had yet to be named. Citizens can expect a new airport manager to be named in early 2004 and work to begin on their capital improvement projects. The Peachtree City Airport Authority meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Falcon Field.
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