By Betsy Finklea
Dillon County is seeking a director for the Dillon County Airport.
The county has begun advertising for the position. The ad sates that “this person will plan, organize and manage the operations and services of the County’s Airport; ensures proper adherence to a variety of rules and regulations governing Airport operations and services; develops plans and recommendations for future Airport development and Capital Improvements; receives and resolves complaints; receives and responds to a variety of inquiries and information requests regarding Airport Services and operations. This position reports directly to the County Administrator.” Qualifications include “a degree in Aviation Management or Business Administration or related field or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Preferred private pilot licenses or higher;” a valid South Carolina state driver’s license and successfully pass drug screening test. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
The airport was discussed at a recent workshop and council meeting.
At the workshop, Dillon County Economic Development Director Tonny McNeil said the airport would help connect the dots of the supply chain of economic development which includes rail, port, and trucking. He sees the airport as critical to the inland port. McNeil said he would like to see the runway extended. McNeil would like to see a very active airport. He would eventually like to develop an “airpark,” which is an industrial site close to the airport. He said to have a world-class distribution the four dots need to connect.
Charles Taylor was the next person to speak. Taylor said he had been involved in aviation all of his life. Taylor said Marlboro and Marion both have fine facilities, but they don’t have interstate. Lumberton does pretty well.
Taylor said they might ask how they are going to do all of this. Taylor said he was formerly an airport manager in Florida for 10 years. He said they took a place eight and a half miles out of town added two hangars, a terminal building/office complex, and went from 4,000 to 6,000 feet. He said it was a different scene in the way it was funded.
Taylor then talked about where the monies would come from. He said to qualify for some money they would need fuel, a temporary terminal building, and 10 planes based at the airport with a one-year lease. He said this would help qualify them for money from the S.C. Aeronautics Commission. Taylor said he would not be asking for money to put in the gas/fuel because he had a promise from someone to put that in. They may also be able to qualify for federal funding. He said these were things that were going to generate income down the road; it is not going to happen overnight.
Taylor said her had talked to someone who had an interest in putting in a flight school. This person would train 25-30 students ever 90 days.
Taylor pointed out that Dillon County is halfway between Miami and New York. Taylor noted that people who fly into Florence fly into a controlled field, and this is not the case here.
Taylor said he would get on the phone and call and let them know about the airport. He said they would get people in the county involved by holding mini air shows, car shows, etc.
Taylor also stated that businesses like to be located at the airport or close by.
Taylor said he thought this time is a golden opportunity for the airport to prosper. He said he would like the opportunity or for somebody to have the opportunity to move forward with this. He said if he was lucky enough to have the position, he would handle looking for monies, etc. He said it won’t take a lot to get started.
Richard Schafer was the next to speak. He is a member of the Dillon County Airport Commission but they haven’t met for several years. As an ex-pilot, he has made many trips into the airport. He said over the years he has seen the council do at least three studies regarding the airport.
“If we lose this airport, you won’t get another one,” Schafer said. He said he thinks if they are ever going to save the airport that now is the time to save it.
Schafer said the airport ought to be a part of our economic development plan. He said it was a good thing for industry. He said he love the economic development director’s plan to put an industrial park around the airport, but that they were talking lots of money to do that.
Schafer said it was a great opportunity and should be on their to-do agenda.
Interim County Administrator Rodney Berry said he agreed with what had been said and that the airport will be a major factor moving forward with the inland port. He said the council charged him to be prudent, and he had a little different thoughts on the matter.
Berry said there are federal dollars. He believes in a discovery stage. He has had discussions with the Public-Private Partnership Board with whom they could partner.
The Sheriff has identified $15,000 of unused money from his budget. Berry would like to give this $15,000 to the Public-Private Partnership to begin “due diligence on airport development in a six-month contract.” He said the board has an interest in using some of the money they get to upgrade the facilities.
Berry said the Public-Private Partnership “has indicated initial interest in further financial and management support.” A monthly report would be presented to the county council. After six months, they would see where they are and make a decision on how to move forward. He said he didn’t know if diving in ahead is the right approach at this time.
Councilman Archie Scott said they already have industries and CEOs here flying into Florence and driving to Dillon.
Scott said he thought they could do this. He thought they could find the money in the general fund. Scott said when County Administrator Clay Young was here, they knew how the budget was and money was spread throughout the general fund.
Taylor said he never heard of a Public-Private Partnership that had anything to do with an airport in the state of South Carolina. Scott said it would be up to the county council to upgrade and up fit it, and if the Public-Private Partnership wanted to help with funds, they would welcome it.
Councilman Harold Moody said he thought they needed to reappoint the airport commission and have them bring back a recommendation to council or if they wanted to make a political decision without input from pilots that was fine too. It was whatever they wanted to do.
H. Moody said he thought putting gas out there without someone out there was a major mistake. Taylor said he was looking at self-contained tanks.
Chairman T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr., said if they have a 3,000 ft. airport out there, then they need to have the best 3,000 ft. airport that they can have.
Scott said he agreed. He said they were elected to take the reins and lead. He said they have never been in this position before. He said he thought they should go for it and move ahead.
At the regular meeting, Councilman Archie Scott said he, Councilman Robbie Coward, Councilman-Elect James Campbell, and Interim County Administrator Rodney Berry went to the airport and looked at it. He said it looks like some good work has been done there already except for a few grass spots that need to be killed. He said he thought they needed to follow up to get it up and running. Berry added that it was in better condition than he thought. Scott made a motion to get the airport up and operational and to hire a director. This was seconded by Coward. Voting in favor were Councilman Stevie Grice, Councilman Robbie Coward, Chairman Finklea, Councilman Randy Goings, and Councilman Archie Scott.
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These two meetings can be watched in their entirety on www.thedillonherald.com or on The Dillon Herald’s channel on YouTube (searchable under Johnnie Daniels).
