Video: Airport Takes Center Stage at Post One Debate

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Post One Commissioner Candidates sparred Saturday night at a political forum, fighting for the vacancy left by Will Beattie, who decided not to run for reelection for the post one position. Hosted by FYN and held at the North Georgia Community Center, the candidates took the hot seat on issues ranging from the airport to taxes to a diving digest. Competing for the spot were Tony Arbucci, Randy Bell and Jerry Tuso.

Early in the debate the candidates were asked to respond to the current usage of the three major assets of the county, the golf course, airport and civic center.

Arbucci said the county has no business running these operations, arguing they should be sold and run by private companies.

“There should be loop holes,”

he said,

“where we could have a long-term lease or out-right sell them.”

He added that government should provide only the basics, such as road maintenance and police and fire protection.

Tuso offered mixed views on the topic.

“It was built with grants,”

he said about the golf course,

“it was a gift to the county; we’re required to keep it. The golf course pays us $90,000 a year; our responsibility for that is to provide $25,000 in capital improvements.”

Regarding the civic center, Tuso felt the facility was not being utilized to its fullest potential and would be open to exploring the operation to improve the facility’s financial return to the county.

The airport, though, seemed to the most controversial of all the assets. Just last month, the fixed based operator of the airport returned the operation of the airport over to the county. Since that time, the county has assumed operations. Tuso explained the airport is currently without a fixed base operator, but that the county has the operation out for bid and the bid has drawn a lot of interest.

“The airport was part of a budget amendment that was done last week,”

he explained,

“What we owe and have in capital assets is almost a wash, (at) a $10,000 difference.”

As soon as the county gets a fixed base operator, Tuso felt that the county

“should be getting into the black very shortly.”

Bell, however, disagreed with Tuso regarding the numbers of the airport.

“As of June 30th,”

he said,

“they’ve collected 42 percent of projected revenues and the expenditures were at 93 percent.”

As such, Bell argued that

“it’s not going to work out.”

However, he did argue a fixed base operator should run the airport, not the county. Tuso, though, disputed Bell’s numbers, saying,

“We have almost $36,000 in assets—that is, things like tugs, office equipment…also the amount of fuel. (So) It’s not $42,000 (42 percent), it’s approximately $10,000.”

Then, while passing the microphone to Bell for a response, Arbucci asked about the fuel tank, which Arbucci said was $75,000. The question went unanswered.

Responding to Tuso, Bell said the assets the county purchased were $14,000. However, he noted it remains to be seen if other assets, like fuel, will be sold by the end of the year, commenting that the county’s previously biggest Jet-A fuel customer recently relocated to Fannin County. He also said he does not favor extending the runway 5000 feet for private jets, because the approach would be over Coosawatee, which, he felt would cause problems. Bell also said he would ask Georgia House Speaker David Ralston to “untie” the county’s hands regarding these three assets, which Bell said, are not performing adequately for the county.

Gilmer County Citizens will cast their vote for one of three candidates during the primary on July 31st.

See video for the rest of the debate.

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