Airport project gains momentum as county council approves resolution

Cherokee County Council took another step Monday to assure a proposed airport becomes a reality.

At the urging of councilman Bailey Humphries, council by a 5-2 vote agreed to support a resolution that called on the county to "do all things reasonable and necessary to obtain final approval for the construction and development" of a county airport.

Humphries said the resolution was needed to obtain approval and funding for the project from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Humphries told council the three-member airport commission should complete its preliminary site selection work within weeks. The commission, comprised of John Travers, Vic Sarratt and Bill Van Antwerp, are close to identifying three of the six proposed sites, according to Humphries, who said several of the sites won't require the county to relocate any residents.

The county needs to acquire between 450 and 550 acres for the airport.

A recent feasibility study outlined a conceptual airport design that included a 5,500 foot by 100 foot runway, a full parallel taxiway, precision approach to one runway and non-precision approach to the other runway end. The design also showed a 5,000 square-foot terminal, an apron for transient aircraft parking and a hangar.

The report estimates that 577 acres would be required for the airport, with 192 acres being acquired in fee simple or easement.

Cherokee is one of only two counties in the state without a general aviation airport.