By a vote of 6-6 at its March 24 meeting, the Hawkins County Commission rejected a proposal to compile an economic impact study on the airport, including the legal ramifications and cost of selling the property.
The resolution was introduced by Budget Committee Chairman Jason Roach, who said the report would help the commission make more informed decisions regarding future developments at the Hawkins County Airport.
Currently the plan is to complete improvements to the terminal, which would then make the county eligible for 97.5% federal grants for construction of new hangars, which are reportedly in high demand. The goal would be to generate revenue from those new hangars that would make the airport at least break even — and possibly become profitable — within the next couple of years…