Rutherford Airport advances 'land acquisition' under 'race conscious' rules

The Rutherford County Airport Authority approved work Nov. 2 toward acquiring nearly 23 acres near Runway 19 and adopted higher aircraft rental and parking fees effective Jan. 1.

The land acquisition is part of a broader effort to control property along the runway’s approach. Airport Director Devon Raisch said the airport is starting with a property owner interested in selling.

“Our goal is to find folks that are amenable to selling their property,” Raisch said.

Documents accompanying Work Authorization No. 7 identify the property as approximately 22.84 acres on Hudlow Road owned by Roger L. Smith. The acquisition materials anticipate purchasing the property outright, with no relocation.

The authority’s vote advances the acquisition process. The materials reviewed do not establish a final purchase price or completed sale.

Airport consultant Greg Kershaw said the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation had reviewed and approved the proposed scope and fees.

“They are in support of moving forward with this first phase, we’ll call it, of the land acquisition,” Kershaw said.

Other properties north of the runway appear on the airport’s long-term planning map. Kershaw said officials wanted to begin with a willing seller before approaching additional acquisitions.

“Those can get a little sensitive,” he said. “So we wanted to start off with one that we were confident that we had a seller that was willing to sell.”

Kershaw described the broader acquisition effort as potentially exceeding $2 million, while cautioning that he did not have the exact figure available. That estimate covered multiple properties, rather than the single parcel discussed Monday.

A state report shows Rutherford County was awarded over $2.2 million for “Eastside Development - Phase 1” including 6.4% or $142,016 for “race conscious” funds, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program uncovered by Cops & Congress while researching the source of the money mentioned at the meeting.

He recommended using older accumulated airport grant funds for the initial phase to reduce the risk of losing money when funding expires. State officials have also indicated a willingness to provide assistance for subsequent phases, he said.

Supporting proposals list $23,805 for surveying, $9,180 for acquisition services and $2,950 for an appraisal. Those amounts are service proposals, not the land’s purchase price or a complete project budget.

The authority also approved a revised fee schedule that Raisch described as a market adjustment intended to help offset airport costs.

Monthly community hangar rates will range from $250 for aircraft with wingspans under 40 feet to $850 for aircraft with wingspans from 65 feet to under 70 feet.

Raisch described the proposed hangar increases as approximately $50 per category. He said the main hangar’s age and lack of insulation had made him reluctant to raise rates.

“This is a fair market adjustment just to kind of help offset cost at the airport for us,” he said.

Monthly outdoor parking for aircraft with wingspans under 40 feet will increase from $60 to $70. Raisch said the ramp area is becoming crowded and the airport incurs costs replacing tie-down ropes.

The schedule also sets a $400 monthly rate for qualifying aircraft using community-style space in Hangar 1B, or $600 if climate-controlled space is offered.

Fuel for the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office aircraft will continue to be charged at cost, officials said.

However, RCSO owns no aircraft. The schedule exempts military, law enforcement and emergency services aircraft and vehicles from fees.

In another vote, the authority authorized Raisch to work with the county attorney on terms for an Atlas Gateway payment processing agreement.

Raisch said legal reviewers, presumably the county attorney Richard Williams, wanted clearer written provisions allowing the airport to exit the agreement. He described the base service as carrying no new associated cost at this time and said it would help process and track airport sales.

The authority also approved its 2027 meeting schedule. Raisch reported that a state pavement evaluation team had begun inspecting the airport that morning to help identify maintenance needs and potential state assistance.

Watch the meeting and read the meeting documents here.