Isom Speaks Out About Gilmer Airport

Featured Stories, Opinion

My name is Nancy Isom.
I own Gilmer County Aviation, Inc. the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at the Gilmer County Airport. For those of you who do not know, I am closing the FBO. Under the current County Administration, it has become impossible to continue to operate my business.
Gilmer County Aviation was established in 2010 by my late husband, David Isom. David served in an advisory position on the Airport Advisory Board for Gilmer County. David was extremely knowledgeable, experienced and successful in airport operations, especially Fixed Base Operations.
Fixed Base Operators are normally individuals that start a company with the purpose of operating at an airport to provide aviation services to those that use the airport. David had previously owned and operated a similar operation at McCollum field in Kennesaw GA. That business was highly successful and subsequently sold.
Gilmer County Commissioners approached David to start up and run Fixed Base Operations for Gilmer County Airport. Their request had come on the heels of improprieties that had developed in the pending award of a contract to the only company that had bid to conduct Fixed Base Operations at Gilmer County Airport. That company, with certain ties in Gilmer County, was the only viable bid contender for the County contract for Fixed Base Operations. Just as the award of the bid was to be announced, one Commissioner abstained from voting, due to what he considered a “conflict of interest”. The bidding company had allowed that Commissioner the privilege of free rides on their aircraft.
With the only company that had submitted a bid unable to be awarded the contract, and no other bid contenders to start Fixed Base Operations, David was asked by the Commissioners if he would take the contract. David was assured by the County Commissioners that the County would back him on what he determined to be needed to successfully run Gilmer County Airport Fixed Base Operations.
David, having served on the Airport Advisory Board, knew the plans for the airport were to extend the runway. David also knew that the hangers the County built were for larger aircraft, not smaller aircraft. David knew that larger corporate aircraft at outlying airports were being forced to find airports that would allow for lower operating costs. These corporate operators would seek monetary relief in taxes, lower fuel costs and hanger costs. David accepted the contract based on these stipulations. Gilmer County airport, with a longer runway and bigger hangers, would attract larger aircraft that could sustain a revenue base that would make Fixed Base Operations a success.
David died in 2010 of cancer, about one year after the startup of Gilmer County Aviation. To say the least, David’s death left me reeling and I was thrust into making a decision as to what to do with the business. I had to decide if I should keep Gilmer County Aviation or let it go. I was approached by the County Commissioners after Dave’s death and was assured that if I kept the Fixed Base Operations running they would assist me in every way possible.
Gilmer County Aviation is a service business responsible for the Fixed Base Operations: fuel, security, office space, hanger rentals, customer service and informing the County of maintenance issues or problems. Gilmer County was responsible for maintaining the airport grounds and the facilities. Gilmer County’s Administrator, responsible for overseeing airport operations and the improvements at Gilmer County Airport, is Mr. Jim Smith. As time progressed, it was evident Mr. Smith would attempt to dictate not only how the airport would be run, but how Gilmer County Aviation would be operated. What Mr. Smith refused to acknowledge was that Gilmer County Aviation was an independent business, operated and owned by me, not the County.
It was evident Mr. Smith lacked confidence in my ability to run my own business. He constantly and persistently, on a daily basis, hindered and interfered with my business operations. He was intent, not only to be the County Administrator, but dictate the way I operated Gilmer County Aviation, Inc.
I am a graduate of Boston College with a degree in Marketing. My work experience includes RACAL Communications, Manager of Sales and Support, Submittal Specialist, Dillingham Construction, San Francisco, (2nd largest Construction Company) in the World. My job was to approve every item put into US Embassies around the world. I worked for The United States, State Department, Marshall Islands and Embassies in South America. I am a licensed Real Estate Agent in Georgia and owned my own real estate company. I worked with David in real estate development, both commercial and residential. I am quite knowledgeable and capable of knowing how to run a business.
With my recommendations and with the help of David’s and my professional contacts, every attempt made to improve the Gilmer County Airport was vetoed by Mr. Smith. If he was informed of a problem that existed he would rarely acknowledge or follow through fixing things that the county was responsible for. The alarm and video system that didn’t work, inadequate heat for the hangers, power surges that destroyed computer systems on the self-serve fuel pumps that cost my company hundreds of dollars, the constant loss of airport runway lighting due to power surges that burned out the bulbs, the inadequate runway length that prohibited use by larger aircraft that would have increased fuel sales, inability to install a Visual Altitude Slope Indicator (VASI) utilized by landing pilots to acquire a safe approach angle to the runway. The County had funds of roughly $75,000 for the VASI but the State DOD would not allow installation until the runway was lengthened; refusal to allow through the fence operations that would have allowed adjacent land owners the ability to build hangers and other facilities that would have increased overall revenue, the failure to accomplish a feasibility study before beginning airport construction. The list goes on and on.
The cost of running Gilmer County Aviation, Inc., including fuel purchases, insurance, utilities, and labor that I paid out of pocket every month exceeded the revenue brought in from fuel sales, hanger rentals, and office rentals. Each month costs were rising and revenues were slipping. I knew, due to the economy, the County was hurting for revenue, but, so was I. In an effort to hang on, I made a request to Mr. Smith to allow a reduction of the lease fee the county was charging me each month until airport revenues increased. It was a useless request.
At this point my only option was to try and find someone to take over Gilmer County Aviation. Three people showed an interest in taking over the business and three times they all met with negative responses from Mr. Smith. He informed them that, if they did take over, he would have to approve the action, and that they would run things his way or they would not be allowed to take over. They all backed out.
Gilmer County Airport became my major focus after David’s death. I was determined to make David’s dreams and goals for the airport come to fruition. I grew up in a family that taught us we had to work for a living; we should trust the word of those that gave it. Honesty does not require a lie. A name is more important than wealth. Giving is a privilege that obligates us to help those that are in need, and we should always try to do what is right in life no matter what.
I have stated the facts as they happened, so there is no slanting of the truth as this story is told. The responsible citizens of Gilmer County deserve to know the truth surrounding the airport; where their taxes and other valuable services have been misappropriated and misused by their elected officials. Elected government officials have the responsibility to serve faithfully the people they represent and serve in the best interest of those that elected them as their representatives. Their duty is to be responsible and diligent in the offices they are elected to serve, and not to hinder and abuse those under them.
Gilmer County Government will soon take over all operations at Gilmer County Airport. If this is their goal, I wish them well in their endeavors. I hope they can achieve whatever their goal may be. Our economy today is not as supportive of general aviation as it once was. The prospects under the current County Administration are questionable to say the least. My goal was trying to make a difference, trying to do what was right, and I accomplished my goal.

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