WINNSBORO – Fairfield County administration discovered, during the recent reorganization of the County’s airport management, that the airport’s gas tanks had never been properly regulated by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
In September, the Administration and Finance Committee approved the restructuring of the airport’s management from an independent fixed based operator (FBO) to a director who answers to the County Administrator.
County Administrator Jason Taylor told Council Monday night that the County is now faced with the $9,600 bill for all past permitting fees that were not paid under the management of the former FBO.
“Is there any way we can charge that to the previous fixed based operator?” Council Chairman Billy Smith asked.
“I don’t know that’s the case that we can do that,” Taylor said.
“I think we need to find out,” Smith said.
According to Taylor, due to lack of proper inspection, the current tanks are going to be removed and have to be replaced.
“We’ll find a temporary solution and, hopefully, we’ll have that resolved by Wednesday so there will be almost no interruption for gas services at the airport,” Taylor said.
The FBO was previously responsible for airport management, collecting gas fees and fees for hangar rentals. An operational assessment conducted in June found the airport to be below average in safety levels and professionalism.