by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At a May 3 town meeting at the Sewanee Elementary School, University Director of Business Services Sam McNair discussed the Sewanee-Franklin County Airport’s need to pursue easements to allow for tree cutting. Residents voiced multiple objections, chief among them, the University’s lack of communication.

McNair explained the airport was not in compliance with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) regulations and had operated on a provisional license since 2017. The airport receives $150,000 annually in grant money for capital improvements such as paving the runway, according to McNair. TDOT insisted the airport come into compliance before undertaking additional capital improvements. “What stands in the way of [compliance] is trees,” McNair said.

To address the issue, the airport hoped to acquire easements for the “air space” to allow tree cutting. McNair said Franklin County owned the airport, and the University managed it. The airport brought in $4 million annually in tax revenue. With survey work completed, evaluation by TDOT was underway to determine the fair market value of the needed easements. The next step would be negotiation with the two affected property owners. McNair noted the easements would be “for perpetuity.” “If you sell property with an easement, it is worth less,” McNair acknowledged.

An affected property owner objected to paying property taxes on land controlled by the University.

Most area residents who spoke identified themselves as members of the Midway community adjacent to the airport, but did not give their names.

“Our biggest issue is we’re in the dark. We feel threatened without getting the entire truth all the time,” one woman said. “Going forward, we want a guarantee we’ll receive that level of respect…if it is expected from us, it should be given to us as well.”

County Mayor David Alexander said affected residents received a notification letter from the county.

A Midway resident countered property owners were not notified about when the surveyors would come. “You sent [the surveyors] in like a pack of ants without telling anybody.”

Former Domain Manager Richard Winslow said he was surprised surveyors for the state did not need the approval of private landowners. McNair responded Tennessee code provided access to surveyors.

University Treasurer Doug Williams stressed TDOT dictated the process being followed. “We’re not going to force an easement,” McNair insisted. “We want to negotiate an easement.”

Asked about plans to expand the airport and extend the runway, McNair said, “Nothing new is going to happen. There will be no new activities.”

One property owner proposed cutting the trees himself. “As far as the county is concerned, that would suffice,” Alexander said. “It may not suffice with the FAA and TDOT.”

A Midway property owner pointed out the airport could charge hanger fees of $400 per month and realize $150,000 in revenue, making the grant money unnecessary. He said FAA project manager Adam Guy advised him the University would get their easement because if the airport failed to come into compliance, they would need to return the grant money.

In response to a question about the airport acquiring easements by eminent domain, Alexander said it would take his signature or a vote by the county commission. “They won’t get that. However, we are talking about the FAA. That’s a horse of a different color.”

A non-Midway area resident observed the easement was needed so the airport would not need to renegotiate the arrangement each time the property changed hands.

One Midway resident said she did not feel safe with planes flying so low. A neighboring property owner said the planes would fly lower with the trees cut.

Pressed about what the next step would be if no agreement on easements could be reached, McNair said, “It’s negotiation for removing trees without an easement.”

County Commissioner Johnny Hughes cited the success of Frank Gladu’s Village Planning meetings and recommended the county and University adopt a similar communication approach.

One woman suggested shortening the runway, but McNair said it was “not viable.”

Another woman proposed moving the airport. “It’s an interesting concept, but I don’t see how something like that has a chance of happening,” Alexander said.