Macon County Commissioners have passed a resolution requesting the creation of a regional airport authority with Jackson County, paving the way for the Macon airport’s expansion.

Two weeks ago a bill to create the regional authority was put before the State’s General Assembly, a move necessitated by the impending deadline to introduce new legislation, said Rep. Phil Haire, D-Sylva, who is sponsoring the bill along with Rep. Roger West, R-Murphy. The bill has been referred to the finance committee; however, Haire said it is far from being in its final form.

“We’re going to tweak it before it gets heard,” Haire said.

As it is written, the bill calls for the dissolution of both Macon and Jackson County’s independent airport authorities.

“Upon appointment of the members of the Macon-Jackson Regional Airport Authority, the Macon County Airport Authority and the Jackson County Airport Authority, if in existence, are dissolved,” the proposed bill states.

While it is Macon County Commissioners’ intent to dissolve their county’s authority, it is not Jackson County Commissioners’ intent to dissolve theirs, say county managers. Essentially the existing Macon County Authority would have nothing to oversee with creation of the regional authority, as the regional authority is designed solely to control the Macon County Airport. Jackson County will buy in to the Macon County Airport with funding and support.

“They’re going to assume a share of the operating costs and matching grants and everything for the future, but the airport will remain 100 percent county owned,” said Macon County Manager Sam Greenwood.

Jackson’s airport is not part of the regional authority deal and will maintain its own authority, said Jackson County Manager Ken Westmoreland. The airport will continue to operate in its present capacity, with no additional funding being directed to expansion or improvements, Westmoreland said.

Historically the county has contributed $16,000 annual to the airport’s operating costs. New airplane hangers are planned for the airport, which would increase the dollars garnered from rentals. These funds, along with those generate from gas sales, should make the airport self-sufficient, Westmoreland said.

Even though the Jackson airport authority will not be dissolved, and the county will keep the airport open, no promises are made for the airport’s long-term future. The federal grant monies the county has received stipulate that funding is contingent upon 20 years worth of maintenance and upkeep. What happens after those 20 years are up is unknown.