COUNTY COMMISSION RENEWS AIRPORT LICENSE
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor
County commissioners voted to temporarily renew the license on the Wakulla County Airport, hoping that some progress can be made on the issue in the state Legislature.
At the meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, commissioners voted to renew the license until August. It had been set to expire on Jan. 31.
The airport – really a grass strip for small aircraft at Tarpine – has been a subject of considerable controversy: pilots and supporters are frustrated that the county has not come through with needed improvements to meet state muster; opponents, especially those who live on nearby Surf Road, have expressed their concern that large military aircraft such as Blackhawk helicopters use the field and create noise and possible danger.
A tipping point came with a noise study for the airport required by the state via FAA regulations that would potentially cost tens of thousands of dollars. The county is trying to get the local legislative delegation – Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe) and Sen. Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) to exempt Wakulla from the requirement.
If the county can get that regulatory carve-out, it then faces the job of expanding the width of the airport runway. “We still have all the expense to upgrade the airport to meet (Florida Department of Transportation) requirements,” said Commissioner Chuck Hess. Commissioner Ralph Thomas answered: “Hopefully, FDOT is ready to write some checks like they have in the past.”