County purchasing property for airport

May 6, 2016

Washington County Redevelopment Authority, which operates Washington County Airport, has asked the Washington County commissioners to approve the purchase of one acre from the Lutes estate, 826 Mounts Road, at a price not to exceed $66,000.

Last month, the county purchased about one adjacent acre, which included a mobile home, at 806 Mounts Road from John and Linda Murr for a sum not to exceed $71,000 plus closing costs, also for eventual runway expansion within the area of the airport master plan.

William McGowen, executive director of the redevelopment authority, said the runway project is “years away,” but property acquisition is part of the initial phase.

The state Bureau of Aviation approved both purchases, to be funded 90 percent by federal taxpayers, 5 percent by state taxpayers and 5 percent by county taxpayers.