County councilman irked at airport commission chairman's remarks

A Cherokee County Councilman said he would accept the resignation of the airport commission chairman after his controversial remarks became public last week.

In a meeting Tuesday to update his fellow commissioners, chairman Vic Sarratt described the airport project as having "stalled" and pointed the finger at apathetic county officials for dragging their feet.

He backed up his charge by claiming a required economic impact study laid untouched on the desk of county officials for three weeks.

Under the present timeline, the county will miss the deadline for inclusion in the state aeronautic plan and won't be eligible for federal funding this year, according to Sarratt.

Councilman Bailey Humphries, a staunch proponent of the airport project, said he was disappointed in the chairman's comments.

"It's not the truth," Humphries said. "If he's that aggravated to force council into some kind of action, that disappoints me. I won't call for his resignation, but I'll accept it."

Cherokee County Interim Administrator Ben Clary also took Sarratt to task for his comments.

"I take exception to this being directed at the county," said Clary at last Wednesday's Cherokee County Council meeting. "I think it's been misdirected and certainly, in my opinion, should not be directed to this council."