Airport commission to discuss sites

It's no secret what the Cherokee County Airport Commission wants for Christmas, but they'll have to settle for a discussion of the issues surrounding the proposed airport when they meet Tuesday.

The meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.

The agenda includes the site selection for the economic impact study and a review of the list of pilots in the county and the 2009 budget.

This is the commission's first meeting since September when commission chairman Vic Sarratt praised the work of the commission and the state aeronautics commission but pointed the finger at what he said was an apathetic Cherokee County Council, claiming it was dragging its feet on the proposed airport.

Since that meeting, county officials have said that a Columbia-based engineering firm has begun its economic impact study for the proposed facility.

The results of that study will likely determine if Cherokee County Council moves forward with the project.