The Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority met for the first time in the conference room at Cleveland Regional Jetport amid a flurry of last-minute activity before Friday’s grand opening.
The runway will be open to air traffic sometime Thursday.
Authority members quickly approved a motion authorizing Vice Chairman Lynn DeVault to sign a grant contract with the Aeronautics Division of Tennessee Department of Transportation for an apron and taxiway to T-hangars. The total contract amount is $1 million. The state share is $958,550 and the local share is $50,450.
Crystal Air is the fixed-base-operator at Hardwick Field and continues in that role at Cleveland Regional Jetport under the terms of a two-year agreement.
The agreement allows Crystal Air to perform aircraft maintenance, air charter service and flight school. The FBO will provide various services such as ground maintenance and other services.
Crystal Air will lease the community hangar at a rate of 1 percent in the first year and 2 percent the second year, up to a maximum of 5 percent of gross revenue or $51,360 a year. Payments will be made in monthly increments. The maximum amount would be basis. Gross revenue includes income from storage, maintenance or other income generated in the community hangar. The income does not include flight instruction, charter service or aircraft rental.
A third item on the agenda concerned a letter from Robby Garrison expressing interest in purchasing the property at Harwick Field.
The airport authority will host the public Friday afternoon following a VIP grand opening of Cleveland Regional Jetport in the morning.
The city’s new front door at 251 Dry Valley Road N.E., will be open to the public from 2 to 5 p.m. The morning ceremony is by invitation only.
City schools will have a significant role in the official grand opening that begins at 11 a.m., with entertainment provided by the Cleveland High School Band. Quentin Scott, an honor student from Blythe-Bower Elementary School, will sing the national anthem.
The following is the program for the grand opening:
11 a.m. — Entertainment by the Cleveland High School Band
11:30 a.m. — Welcoming remarks by Lynn DeVault, chairman, Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority
11:35 a.m — National anthem sung by Quentin Scott
11:40 a.m. — Invocation offered by Dr. Perry F. Stone of Voice of Evangelism
11:45 a.m. — Introduction of guests by DeVault
11:55 a.m. — Congratulations and welcome by U.S. Reps. Chuck Fleischmann and Scott DesJarlais
12:05 p.m. — “Importance of General Aviation,” by Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer
12:15 p.m. — Tennessee — “Ready for the Future,” by Tennessee Deputy Gov. Claude Ramsey
12:20 p.m. — “Taking Flight Toward Progress,” by Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell
12:25 p.m. — DeVault will make a presentation to Tennessee Aeronautics Division of TDOT
12:30 p.m. — Airport Authority Vice Chair Lou Patten will offer special recognition to W. Allan Jones, chairman, Jones Management Services Inc., and Brenda Lawson, CEO, Brenda Lawson & Associates LLC
12:40 p.m. — Patten will offer a special thanks to the terminal design committee and grand opening committee
12:45 p.m. — The ribbon-cutting ceremony
The event will conclude at 1 p.m. with the VIP honorary departure flight provided by Jones Airways LLC.
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