St. Marys and airport board reach agreement

ST. MARYS - The dispute over who controls the St. Marys Airport is apparently over.

After meeting with City Council members Tuesday, the St. Marys Airport Authority agreed to withdraw a lawsuit challenging the firing of four of the five members.

In return, the council agreed to allow the four authority members to retain their positions. Both sides agreed to work together to manage the airport.

Council members voted 4-2 on Dec. 8 to remove chairman Richard Russell and members J. Gregory Moore, Steve Swanson and James Starline from the authority, which oversees day-to-day airport operations.

Council members who voted to remove authority members said they didn't buy insurance coverage for the airport or apply for state and federal funding to maintain the facility.

They remained on the job after Mayor Rowland Eskridge vetoed the Dec. 8 vote three days later. A Superior Court judge also issued an injunction keeping authority members on the job until the matter is resolved in court.

Authority members argued they were never given a chance to defend themselves before the vote to remove them from the unpaid positions. Tuesday's meeting gave them their first opportunity to explain their actions, they said.

Councilwoman Deborah Hase told authority members they are "obstructionists" and the City Council has the ultimate say in all city operations, including the airport.

She said the authority failed to remove trees that could interfere with aircraft takeoffs and landings, maintain a perimeter security fence and repair runway lighting.

"Your lease requires the airport authority maintain the facility," she said.

Despite having $150,000 in federal funding for airport upkeep, Russell said authority members are restricted on how the money is spent.

The Federal Aviation Administration discouraged replacing perimeter fencing because of ongoing discussions by city officials to relocate the airport to a site more than 15 miles north of the city limits near Woodbine, Russell said.

But other work, such as clearing trees, repairing some fencing and replacing runway lights was completed, Russell said.

"We did the best we could do," he said.

Russell said the city agreed to pay for insurance coverage in 2004, which is why they didn't have coverage.

Russell said plans for improvements, such as new runway lighting, can be moved if the airport is relocated, saving money.

Swanson said the authority has met its obligations to property maintain the airport, citing annual FAA inspections that had "little comment" about any problems.

"This authority is a good functioning authority," he said.

Eskridge said authority members are very qualified and can provide valuable input that will help the city as they work to move the airport.

At the end of the meeting, Councilman Greg Bird said the agreement is "a move in the right direction."

"It's about trust and building relationships," he said.

Councilman Bill Deloughy said the next step is to draft a formal agreement so both sides know what to expect in the future.

"I think the decision is pretty much in place," he said. "I think the air is cleared."

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