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BLOUNTVILE, Tenn. — One month after approving funding for a new airline to come to the Tri-Cities Airport, some members of the Sullivan County Commission are questioning the decision after learning more about the deal.
On Thursday, during the month’s work session meeting, commissioners heard from John Rose, the executive director of BRIDGE, a rebranded regional economic development organization formerly known as NETNHub, a group the county previously declined to support.
Rose shared an update about BRIDGE’s various projects that stretch across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, including a plan to bring a new airline to Tri-Cities Airport.
In November, the commission became the first local government body to approve a resolution to fund up to $10,000 a month for two years. Rose said the airline is asking for a minimum revenue guarantee of $2 million. Other municipalities and counties are also considering a vote on the matter.
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Rose said a new airline could bring in more tourists to the region, as well as potentially lower ticket prices, which currently often lead travelers to drive to Asheville, North Carolina, or Knoxville, Tennessee, to fly.
“I wish you’d been here last month to explain it to us and provide a presentation like the one given in Bristol,” said Commissioner Hershel Glover, referring to a meeting involving several stakeholders at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol, Virginia.
Glover said he was not aware of BRIDGE’s rebranding or how the organization was participating in the airline efforts. BRIDGE representatives were not present at the November meeting, nor was the organization’s name mentioned during discussions at the work session or commission meeting.
Later in Thursday’s meeting, Glover said he was withdrawing his support for the resolution passed in November. He added that the commission had passed a resolution in February of 2023 that kept the county from supporting or financing NETNHub. The airline funding resolution contradicted the previous resolution, he said.
“I don’t see how that can we support BRIDGE and fund $10,000 through their private partnership to help with the airport,” Glover said.
He added, “It’s the same thing as supporting the HUB which we said we wouldn’t do.”
Sullivan County Attorney Dan Street said he did not believe there was any issue with November’s resolution because the last line states, “All resolutions in conflict herewith be and the same rescinded insofar as such conflict exists,” which is common for commission resolutions.
“This is not supporting BRIDGE at all,” said Commissioner Sam Jones. “They are the organization that the airport is using to hold the funds because federal law does not allow the airport to spend money for marketing. If they did, we could be subject to every federal grant that’s ever been given to the airport.”
Commissioner David Akard, who said he was also concerned about the timeline for funding, said the commission didn’t have all the facts when voting in November. Akard was absent during that meeting.
“We did say we weren’t going to fund them, and I do feel like the wool was pulled over our eyes,” Akard said. “It’s kind of interesting that they came to us first, for this kind of funding. They knew we weren’t even a partner of theirs. They beat down all of our emails and phones trying to get us to talk about it for months and then when they want the money, none of us got an email about it. That’s frustrating.”
Akard referred to the meeting at the casino in which not all commissioners received invitations. He added that the resolution’s two sponsors, Commissioners Mark Ireson and Zane Vanover, “had a lot of clout in this room for the $240,000, and that’s shameful.”
“When we are spending taxpayer money, we should know exactly what it’s going to be about,” Akard said.
Ireson, who said he was not trying to deceive commissioners, said the money will not go toward HUB operations.
Akard said he was also concerned with the wording of the November resolution.
“The resolution doesn’t really say when the funding would be given,” Akard said. “It says at passage of this resolution up to $10,000 a month for a total of $240,000.”
Akard asked how BRIDGE will ask for the funding, and when it would start and end.
Rose said the organization will not commit to the airline until the minimum revenue guarantee is met.
Ireson said there is no guarantee the airline will come to the airport. He said he hopes the airline will start in May, which means Sullivan County will begin to pay in June.
Glover also said he believed BRIDGE could jeopardize existing airlines at the airport by funding their competition.
Rose said the airport is currently losing an estimated 60% of its customer base to nearby airports.
“Trust me, there is room in the market for another airline,” Rose said.
Ireson informed commissioners that the number of passengers at the airport is currently up.
Commissioner Matt Slagle, who questioned BRIDGE’s purpose in the region, said, “I don’t know if it changes the vote, but it definitely came to us in a way that creates pause, if anything.”
Rose said BRIDGE has six areas of importance for growing the region’s economy, including market research and data; passenger service at the airport; tourism; talent attraction and retention, site development and real estate development. He said the organization works closely with many area groups, including NETWORKS in Sullivan County, as well as other economic development, tourism groups, businesses and higher education facilities in the region.
Vanover and Ireson both apologized if the commission felt deceived.