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Article Courtesy of
WCTV
By
Madison Glaser
Published May 1, 2022
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WATCH VIDEO |
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Panacea -The future of Wakulla County’s only airport is up in the air as county
commissioners and homeowners clash on control and financing.
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The county wanted to
turn over the property to people who live there but the
homeowners association rejected that.
So commissioners are now terminating operation and
maintenance of the facility.
Ted Recker who has been a private pilot since 1969 but moved
from Missouri to Wakulla County seven-years-ago for the
airport and with the future of it up in the air, he may have
to soon consider relocating.
The airport was established privately some 60 years ago
before the owner turned it over to the county.
The county wants to give it back to the Tarpine Homeowners
association which represents the fly-in community.
But the HOA has refused and said the
airport has a slew of deficiencies: it needs better
lighting, improved irrigation, and a wider runway. |
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HOA members said the airport is important for the
whole county, serving as a base for search and rescue, and life
saving missions.
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“We just think it’s such a valuable asset. We don’t need this controversy,
we need to work it out and we do need aviation minded people helping do
that,” said pilot and HOA member Ted Recker.
Kurt Kuersteiner has been flying at Wakulla County Airport since he received
his license over 20 years ago and the thought of the airport being taken
away is something he referred to as a tragedy.
HOA members said the airport is important for the whole county, serving as a
base for search and rescue, and life saving missions.
“I’ve been contributing to Wakulla County because I bought a lot in the
neighborhood, adjacent to the runway, I get supporting the schools, the
senior center, the bike trails supporting all the stuff goes with the
territory because it’s good for the community, but the airport is good for
the community too,” said pilot Karl Kuersteiner.
After WCTV tried to contact Wakulla County Commissioners, District 1
Commissioner Ralph Thomas responded with this statement:
“If the HOA truly doesn’t want it, I support their right to reach that
conclusion and they will get no push back from me.”
The HOA is now hoping to secure funding from the department of
transportation to widen the runway and keep the airport operating.
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