Port Authority Board Authorizes Lease, Building Improvements

Staff Reports Focus on RFI Responses

At its July meeting, the Clinton County Port Authority Board approved the lease of Building 2051 to GA Telesis Engine Services, LLC, as well as approved funds to complete building remediation and improvements.

After authorizing bills to be paid, the Board heard from Executive Director Daniel Evers about the potential lease of approximately 60,000 square feet of warehouse space.

Evers said, “This facility was recently vacated by a tenant that had utilized the space primarily for storage. This proposed tenant would undertake a more active use of the space and bring new employment opportunities to the Air Park and the community.”

To accommodate the tenant operations, some building work is necessary, such as a thorough cleaning, painting, restroom rehibition, etc. Beyond that, improvement in lighting and HVAC have been requested by the potential tenant. Working with LGSTX Services, Port Authority staff is seeking proposals for the work.

In other business, the Board approved a contract with Burgess & Niple for engineering services related to site design criteria and authorized the sale of a scale set to Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services.

Staff reports included an update from broker David Lotterer who reported that prospect activity has been very consistent in the last month. Prospects are approaching the Port Authority with larger scale projects and with stronger financial support. He added that prospects represent a wide array of end users. The Port Authority, much like the County and the market in general, is hampered by a lack of available space. This makes the opportunities for building speculative space stronger.

Following that theme, much of the staff activity in the last month has centered on responding to leads for projects that could potentially be located throughout the county.

“Each Request for Information (RFI) has some standard questions and then some that are very specific to their needs,” said Economic Development Director Jennifer Klus. “We generally have a few days to gather the information and put it in the requested format and return it to the state or to the site selector or individual company requesting the information.”

She went on to explain that information often includes the type and capacity of utilities available to the site, if it is a property that is requested. For that, staff works with the individual providers. Other information might include any easements, zoning, height or emission restrictions, and information on proximity to transportation infrastructure, among other things.

The public meeting ended just after 10:30 a.m. and the Board went into executive session to discuss pending economic development opportunities. Chairman Walt Rowsey said the Board did not expect to return from Executive Session with any additional public business.

The Clinton County Port Authority Board of Directors meets on the second Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Administration Building at the Wilmington Air Park.