April 18--HICKORY -- Hickory Regional Airport is getting a new tenant.
VisionAire Jets will move its aircraft development business now in Newton to the airport's commercial terminal building. The company will occupy the former airport administrative offices. The administration moved to the corporate facility building when the City of Hickory assumed operations of the airport and became the fixed base operator.
The 776-square-foot space will be leased to VisionAire for three years. VisionAire will pay Hickory $250 per month for the first three months, $500 per month for the next three months, and the full rent of $1 per square foot -- $776 per month -- for the remainder of the lease.
Airport manager Terry Clark said Tuesday night that the lease is open for renewal at the end of three years.
According to a statement from the city, the startup partnership between Hickory and VisionAire will "provide a viable, long-lasting relationship, and the airport staff feels that VisionAire Jets will be a good addition to Hickory Regional Airport with ties to the aviation world."
The Hickory City Council approved the lease at Tuesday night's meeting at City Hall. The lease was part of the consent agenda the council passed without comment. The lease will be voted on a second time, as required by the city, probably next month.
Also on the consent agenda was an item on a change order with the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant project. The project began in 2010 to bring the plant into compliance with new federal operating and testing regulations and to upgrade the entire operation. The base cost of the project was contracted at $21.5 million.
So far, the project has cost $22.1 million because of unforeseen expenditures. These expenses so far total $623,161. The extra money is coming from the city contingency fund.
Copyright 2012 - Hickory Daily Record, N.C.
