By Becky Holland
A state-approved bill that would change the makeup of the Cochran-Bleckley County Airport Authority sparked concern and confusion among Cochran City Council members Tuesday night, as several council members said during the meeting they were unaware of the legislation.
House Bill 1570, carried by State Rep. Danny Mathis, would allow up to three members of the local airport authority board to be appointed from outside Bleckley County.
The authority currently consists of seven members, all from Cochran and Bleckley County.
According to discussion during the meeting, the request for the change originated with the airport authority, which approached Mathis about pursuing the legislation.
However, interim City Manager Angela Redding said the typical process for introducing such a bill includes advertising it locally and adopting a formal resolution before it is taken to the legislature, steps she indicated were not followed in this case.
She added that if council chose not to approve the measure and instead make changes, the process would have to begin again, including advertisement and a new resolution, and the bill’s sponsor could then decide whether to move it forward.
Council members expressed concern not only about the process, but also about the potential impact of allowing non-local representation on the board.
“Do we know why?” Council member Dianne Lester asked during the discussion of the changes being made.
Mayor Carla Coley said she was unsure of the reasoning behind the request, while Council member Lonnie Tedders stated that the current airport authority had asked for the change.
Mayor Pro Tem Shane Savant voiced hesitation about the proposal.
“I am struggling with it,” Savant said. “To have three people not from our county on the board is concerning. This is our airport.”
Coley noted that the bill is awaiting the governor’s signature but requires local approval before moving forward. She also acknowledged that State Rep. Danny Mathis had already done the legwork to move the legislation through the General Assembly.
“I am afraid if we don’t approve it, it will reflect poorly on Danny to the governor,” Coley said.
Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve House Bill 1570 and the proposed changes.
When the vote was taken, council was split, requiring Coley to cast the deciding vote.
Visibly surprised by the tie, Coley paused before addressing the council.
“Y’all, this was not how this was supposed to go,” she said. “I always said I knew what I’d do if I had to vote.”
After a brief moment, she added, “I am usually more prepared than this. Sorry, y’all.”
Savant acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, calling it “a tough one,” to which Coley agreed.
After several minutes, Coley cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the bill. The motion passed, allowing the measure to move forward for final consideration by the governor.
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