Just how much would it cost to annually operate and maintain the proposed county general aviation airport?

$100,000? Maybe as much as $300,000?

The actual figure is much lower. Try between $2,000 and $11,000, according to estimates provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, Cherokee County Councilman Bailey Humphries said.

The councilman said the costs include mowing the grass and ensuring that a designated county employee is available to activate runway lights for arriving and departing airplanes.

In addition to compiling some cost figures, county officials have been searching for grants to cover land acquisition costs, which includes appraisals.

In September, Council approved a motion to appraise the 469 acres the county hopes to acquire for the proposed project.

The acreage, located off Hwy. 29 near the Broad River, consists of nearly 50 tracts, with Milliken owning about 400 acres. About 20 tracts are residential or rental properties.

The proposed airport would be built in two stages. The first construction phase would cost $28.9 million for a 4,000- foot runway, a full parallel taxiway, an approach lighting system and a small terminal area.

The second phase would cost $8.6 million to extend the runway and taxiway to 5,500 feet.