PP County commissioners asked to consider leasing airport at Possum Kingdom, judge skeptical

Apr. 24—PALO PINTO — County commissioners were asked Monday to restart discussions with the Brazos River Authority about leasing the authority's airport at Possum Kingdom Lake.

County Judge Shane Long was not enthusiastic about taking on the modest facility off the lake's east shore. His chief concerns, which he cited in a previously discussed river authority proposal, assigned all liabilities to the county.

"As long as it's in the lease, we're not going ahead with it," Long said as the court adjourned into a closed session to discuss the proposal by local attorney Anne Marie Calabria.

The lake resident began a short presentation citing the continued growth at the lake.

"But I would like to see our county have a stronger role in what direction that growth takes," she said.

Calabria said she was speaking for a client, LUDI Properties. She was quick to note that she and and its owner, Dustin Kirkland, are relationship partners raising a family.

She also acknowledged previous discussions about the airport between the county and the river authority. She hoped to restart those discussions, she said, adding a concern the river authority will sell the airport if the county does not step in.

"There is no guarantee it would remain an airport," she said. "There's many things that private industry could do to that airport. ... We want to keep this asset."

A spokeswoman for the river authority said later the BRA remains interested in relinquishing management of the facility.

Public Information Officer Judi Pierce emphasized, though, the river authority has no plans to put the airport out for bids.

Pierce said earlier discussions had led to the 30-year lease the judge referenced.

"The lease would be provided at no charge to operate and maintain the facility," Pierce wrote in an email to the Weatherford Democrat. "The county would be responsible for the taxes and utilities (water, wastewater, electricity, maintenance, etc.)."

She added the lease allowed the county to add to the airport, including more hangars and a business center and restaurant, among other things.

"The BRA is still open to working with the county or another local or state entity to potentially take over operation and maintenance of the facility," Pierce said.

Calabria had asked the court to schedule a future up-or-down vote on leasing the airport. That would give her and Ludi time to explore private sector options, she said.

Calabria expanded on the request for a vote later Monday.

"Our opinion on that is that, short of a vote, we're in purgatory," she said. "We're hoping that getting this (vote) on the agenda will help."

After the Calabria's plea, Long said the county is " ...not opposed to future negotiations" regarding the 1980 facility.

Action during Monday's session was pretty routine.

After declaring the county burn ban will not be reinstated, the court transferred a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe from the fire marshal's office so a newly created constables' assistant won't have to use her personal vehicle.

Linda Lusk, a long-time sheriff's deputy and investigator, was hired at the beginning of the fiscal year in a new role to assist all five constables. Several of those elected officials asked for the vehicle transfer.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Jeff Fryer made the motion to make the transfer, but not after encouraging the constables to work out how to pay her fuel for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Also Monday, the court agreed to lease a new mail/postage machine, for $915 every three months.

The machine is for the Courthouse Annex in Mineral Wells, where a machine left over from the temporary annex in the Poston's Building will remain as a backup.

The lease begins Oct. 1.

In his monthly report, Sheriff Brett McGuire said deputies had issued 53 citations and 71 warnings during March. He also reported deputies put in more than 41,000 miles that month, and that the jail had averaged 85 inmates and housed 89 that morning.

A quarterly update from the county's Texas AgriLife Extension showed healthy participation continues among young and old residents.

Walk Across Texas, an eight-week walking challenge, had attracted 211 participants, while a 4-H photo contest had drawn 252 entries from 42 students.

A symposium on a new feral hog bait is set for April 30 in Stephenville, and a May 22 feral hog summit is scheduled in Graham examining fence law and soil fertility in the fight against the invasive species.

Extension Agent, and 4-H Coordinator, Jason Westbrook added the women won their division at the San Antonio Livestock Show in the market lamb category.