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Richmor says 'no' to lease talks

Jan 27, 2017 7:00 am

Nick Oliveri is reporting in the Register-Star the CEO of Richmor Aviation said Thu., Jan. 26, the company will not renegotiate its lease with Columbia County. Richmor oversees operations at the Columbia County Airport in Ghent. Mahlon W. Richards made the comment one day after the county released an airport profit-and-loss analysis for the years 2013 to 2016. “I don’t think so,” Richards said, when asked if he would discuss the terms of his lease. “We have been here 50 years. When other people look at it and say it’s a bad deal, they should look at airports in other places.” Controller Ron Caponera said at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors Airport Sub-committee Wednesday, the airport is break-even at best from the county's perspective. In 2016, the facility showed a loss of more than $14,000 for the year, while small profits during previous years resulted in an overall loss of approximately $2,700, however. As for renegotiating Richmor's contract, which expires in September, Richards said he may agree to review landing fees. In the meantime, Richmor would like a new hangar. “Another hangar would generate some more business,” Richards said. “What we are doing is exploring a new hangar and it will be public,” Airport Sub-committee Chairman Mike Benvenuto said. Read the full story in the Register-Star.