Greeneville, Tennessee, September 14, 2025
News Summary
The Greeneville City Council will consider a $33,342 local match request to help fund a roughly $1.3 million box hangar at the municipal airport. Grant funding will cover most costs, but some dollars are set to expire and the construction bid must be awarded before the bid deadline, creating urgency. If approved, construction would begin this fall with completion expected in spring. The council agenda also includes potential changes to the town’s property tax relief match, a library sewer change order, and a special event permit. Recent airport updates include rate increases, facility upgrades and wildlife deterrent measures.
Greeneville City Council to consider $33,342 match for $1.3 million airport hangar; meeting Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The Greeneville City Council will meet Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the G. Thomas Love Boardroom at the Greeneville Energy Authority building, 110 N. College St., to consider allocating $33,342 as the local match for four grants awarded to the Greeneville Municipal Airport to build a new box hangar. The hangar project is expected to cost about $1.3 million, with the vast majority of that amount covered by grant funds. City leaders have been urged to act quickly because some grant dollars are set to expire and the construction bid must be awarded before the bid expires on September 23, 2025.
Why the match matters
The airport authority has requested a local match of up to $33,342, which represents roughly a 5% local contribution to a project largely funded by grants. Airport management explained in a Sept. 9 letter that delaying the project could mean losing about $150,000 in grant funds that are scheduled to expire. If the council approves the match, construction is slated to begin this fall with project close-out expected in spring.
Other council items
In addition to the hangar match, the council will consider increasing the local match contribution to the State of Tennessee Property Tax Relief program. Last year the town provided a 50% match to state relief; with state aid dropping, town staff recommended moving the town match to 100%. The change would cost the town an additional $9,165 but would raise total relief for qualified elderly applicants to $214 for 2025 compared with an estimated $161 if the town kept the 50% match. The Property Tax Relief program had 235 participants in the previous tax year.
The council will also consider a change order of $18,217 for ongoing sewer repairs at the Greeneville-Greene County Library, and review a special event application for a Greene County Hurricane Helene remembrance event planned for Sept. 29 on a section of Main Street.
Airport authority actions and rate changes
The Greeneville Municipal Airport Authority recently approved several measures to increase revenue and tighten hangar use rules. Monthly T-hangar lease rates were raised about 15%, moving from $155, $175 and $225 per month to $180, $200 and $260 per month across three rate tiers based on age and amenities. Monthly office lease rates were bumped from $60, $115 and $150 to $70, $135 and $175. The combined rate hikes are projected to generate a little over $26,000 in additional annual revenue.
The board also approved a revised lease document intended to ensure hangars are used to store working, airworthy aircraft rather than serving as general storage. The board agreed to ask tenants to show annual inspection by a certified Federal Aviation Administration mechanic as one way to confirm aircraft are maintained and flown. One board member asked for legal confirmation that a cited state code can be applied to hangar leases before fully endorsing the new lease language; other members supported reviewing lease rates again in one year.
Hangar demand, comparisons and capacity
The airport’s hangars are at capacity and there is a waiting list for tenants. For context on pricing, nearby airports cited in rate comparisons showed higher and lower lease levels: Morristown at $335 and $365, Elizabethton around $285–$300, Virginia Highlands from $155–$280, and Rogersville at $140 (community) and $160 (private) per month.
Safety and wildlife: bear removed
Wildlife officials removed a mother black bear and cubs that had been using a small protected wetlands area inside the airport fence as a food source. The presence of the bear, which was seen crossing a runway and even scaling the 8-foot fence, raised concerns about the risk of aircraft striking an animal on the runway. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency staff installed motion-activated sensors linked to loud sirens as a non-lethal deterrent. The airport has not had sightings of the bear and cubs for several weeks after the deterrents were installed.
Recent and planned airport improvements
The airport has completed a series of facility upgrades since August designed to improve the experience for visitors and reduce operating costs. Highlights include:
- New pilot lounge created from two small rooms for about $3,500, featuring recliners, a TV, laptop access, wifi and phone charging.
- Three mini split heating and cooling units installed at no cost to the airport, funded by a $13,000 FAA Airport Coronavirus Response Grant to improve HVAC efficiency.
- New FBO roof installed for $29,000 through an American Rescue Plan grant; the previous roof dated to 1969 and had contributed to water damage and heat loss.
- New signage at the FBO building and near the self-serve fueling station to welcome visitors and businesses arriving by air.
Additional planned improvements include new runway-end signage and repaving aprons around hangars. Once the planned paving is done, all pavement and tarmac will be less than three years old.
Operational notes, events and funding outlook
The airport will close briefly for runway maintenance on Sept. 3 from 5 p.m. to midnight. The annual Wings and Wheels event is scheduled for Sept. 27. The third annual 5K on the Runway is set for Saturday, Nov. 12, hosted by the Greeneville Civil Air Patrol Squadron TN-015; preregistration is $25 and race-day registration is $35, with online registration available at www.raceentry.com/races/5k-on-the-runway/2022/register.
The airport’s FAA classification changed from local to regional because of increased traffic. That change, effective through 2028, increases the airport’s eligibility for federal grant funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law from about $155,000 to up to $295,000 over the five-year period, providing more than $100,000 in additional potential grant dollars.
Small construction requests also received approval: one company was authorized to add a 40-foot by 10-foot “doghouse” extension to a hangar to accommodate a plane that is about five feet too long for the existing space. That addition will be constructed at no cost to the airport.
What to expect at the council meeting
The Tuesday council agenda includes the airport hangar match request, the proposed increase to the town’s property tax relief match, the library sewer change order, and a special event permit. The hangar match item is time-sensitive due to expiring grant funds and the bid award deadline.
FAQ
How much is the City Council being asked to match for the hangar project?
The Greeneville Municipal Airport Authority requested up to $33,342 from the city as a local match toward a roughly $1.3 million box hangar largely funded by grants.
When and where is the council meeting?
The council meets Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the G. Thomas Love Boardroom at the Greeneville Energy Authority building, 110 N. College St.
Why is the match urgent?
Some grant funds in the airport’s funding package are expiring and the construction bid must be awarded before Sept. 23, 2025. Acting now avoids losing approximately $150,000 in grant support.
How much will hangar and office rates change?
T-hangar monthly rates rose about 15% from $155/$175/$225 to $180/$200/$260. Office rates moved from $60/$115/$150 to $70/$135/$175. The hikes are expected to produce slightly more than $26,000 in extra yearly revenue.
What happened with the bear at the airport?
Wildlife officials used motion-activated sirens after studying bear activity in a protected wetlands area that drew the animals. The non-lethal measures led to the mother bear and cubs leaving the airport grounds, removing the runway safety concern.
When are upcoming airport events?
Runway maintenance: Sept. 3 from 5 p.m. to midnight. Wings and Wheels: Sept. 27. 5K on the Runway: Nov. 12 (preregistration $25, race day $35).
Key features at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Requested city match | $33,342 |
| Total hangar cost | About $1.3 million |
| Grant funds at risk | Approximately $150,000 |
| Hangar rates (old → new) | $155/$175/$225 → $180/$200/$260 per month |
| Office rates (old → new) | $60/$115/$150 → $70/$135/$175 per month |
| Expected annual revenue increase | Just over $26,000 |
| Pilot lounge cost | $3,500 |
| Mini split HVAC grant | $13,000 (FAA COVID grant) |
| FBO roof cost | $29,000 (ARP grant) |
| Runway maintenance | Sept. 3, 5 p.m. to midnight |
| Wings and Wheels | Sept. 27 |
| 5K on the Runway | Nov. 12 — preregistration $25; race day $35 |
| FAA designation change | From local to regional; eligible for up to $295,000 over five years |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Greeneville Sun: Greeneville City Council to consider $33,342 match for $1.3 million airport hangar
- Wikipedia: Greeneville, Tennessee
- WGRV: Greeneville City Council to address hangar and sewer projects, tax relief program and upcoming events
- Google Search: Greeneville Municipal Airport hangar
- Greeneville Sun: Airport Authority board approves new hangar lease rates
- Google Scholar: airport hangar lease rates
- Greeneville Sun: Black bear and cubs cleared from Greeneville Airport grounds
- Encyclopedia Britannica: black bear
- Greeneville Sun: Greeneville Airport shows off improvements
- Google News: Greeneville Municipal Airport
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