Legislation Pending To Move The Airport

The city of St. Marys, Georgia has declined an FAA AIP grant because there is legislation pending at the federal level to close the local airport and open an new one further away from a Navy base.

The Brunswick (GA) News reports that City Manager John Holman recommended that the city not proceed with a project to re-mark a runway at the airport next year because of "discussions between the highest levels of the FAA and the Navy in Washington."

The project would cost about $60,000, of which the city would have been required to pay $15,000, according to the report.

Holman said he checked to see if the work was needed before declining the FAA grant to be sure there would not be a safety issue until such time that the airport might close. The city will not lose the capital improvement plan funding if it is not spent in the next fiscal year, according to Holman.

The National Defense Authorization Act passed by the U.S. House in May includes $6 million to move the airport, which is near Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. The pending federal legislation would fund closing the St Marys Airport (4L6). It would also waive about $5 million in penalties and pay a substantial portion of the construction of another airport in a different location in Camden County.

The FAA said it was not surprised at the city's decision given the status of the pending legislation.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.stmarysga.gov/government/mayor_and_city_council/index.php