A budget presentation and a discussion on how to honor traveling veterans were items during a longer-than-usual monthly meeting for the Augusta Aviation Commission on Thursday morning.
The commissioners approved a land lease agreement with Burrell Aviation, a transportation and logistics company based in Aspen, Colo., to use some 15 acres of the airport’s property for a two-phase development project.
Burrell aims to build a 40,000 square foot common use hangar near the airport’s air ambulance hangar.
Diane Johnston, director of innovation and business development at Augusta Regional Airport, told the commissioners the airport would charge Burrell 35 cents per square foot in land rent during the project’s first phase, and then 10 cents per square foot for the second phase.
“We have put into the agreement to make sure that in the event that they do not exercise and start construction, that this will revert back to the airport,” said Johnston. “We don’t want to tie up our land for a long time if they’re not going to be doing something with it, so that will allow us to start marketing it again in the future.”
The board also approved requesting the Augusta Board of Commissioners to amend an ordinance regarding the customer facility charge (CFC) to auto rental customers. Augusta Regional uses monies collected from CFC fees to fund projects — such as parking, canopies and an access road — to facilitate the operation of rental car companies at the airport.
Currently, an Augusta ordinance requires the airport to charge $3.50 per day for vehicles, starting Jan. 1, explained Johnston. Development staff are seeking an amendment to the ordinance to raise the charge to $4.50, and to allow the airport to begin imposing the fee whenever they need to (which Johnston said would ideally be on Oct. 1, rather than January).
The commissioners also approved Augusta Regional’s 2024 budget, which projects an operating revenue of about $24.8 million, said Finance Director Risa Bingham, who noted the airport’s cash position was helped by nearly $20 million in CARE Act funds, which were first distributed in 2020 and are to expire in April of next year.
The commission also voted to allow staff to examine the airport grounds for suitable areas to install signage recognizing veterans, though not without some contention.
Commissioner James Germany made a motion to approve signage acknowledging veterans traveling through the airport. The proposal entailed installing signs, which display an American flag and read, “Thank you to all who served and continue to serve,” at the main entrance and exits of the airport, as well as at the boarding areas inside the airport.
The signage is similar to those installed near Fort Gordon Gates 1, 2 and 5, by approval of the Augusta Commission, explained Germany.
Commissioner Don Clark, himself an Army veteran and former deputy director of veteran-focused non-profit Forces United, expressed that service members would appreciate the acknowledgement, but questioned whether three signs were “repetitive.”
Germany, a Desert Storm veteran, again stressed that several signs were already installed along Gordon Highway.
“We’re talking about our servicemen and women,” Germany said. “They fight for this country. I don’t think three is enough.”
Augusta Regional Executive Director Herbert Judon proposed the commission give staff the opportunity to survey the airport property and discern where such signs could ideally be installed, so as to both be properly visible and not impede the visibility of other signage.
Commissioner Ronic West echoed Judon’s suggestion.
“I think everyone definitely wants to support the military,” said West. “But I think having staff at least come back and say, ‘the sign should go here, this is a good place,’ I think that makes sense.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
