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tk s Coutzt u <:^A/{auo z Joh n M . Gentr y ^ ^as t Madiso n Avenu e Count y Mayo r Athens , Tennesse e 3730 3 ^^23 ) 745-763 4

Marc h 10 , 200 9 FAA : Offic e o f

th e Chie f

Counse l Attention : FA A Par t

1 6 Airport

Proceeding s Docke t

^

- AGC-610 , Roo m92 5 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D.C . 2059 1 — I

Re : Docke t

16-08-1 3 ^5 ; Dear Mr . Cross : Than k yo u fo r th e opportunit y t o offe

r thi s brie f rebutta l t o Mr . Ferrell' s repl y t o McMin n County' s Answer . I , lik e Mr . Ferrell , wis h t o acknowledg e that despit e th e length an d sincerity o f

ou r disagreement s w e d o conside r ourselve s friends . I honestl y believ e w e all ha dth e sam e goal for

asuccessfu l an dsaf

e airpor t bu t ha ddifferent

interpretation s o f ho w th e pat

h was chose n t o reac h tha t goal . I woul dhumbl y offe r tha t bette r communicatio n an dappreciatio n for eac h other s opinion s coul dhav e mitigate dthi s issue . A s County Mayor , I hav e neve r claime dt o b e a

n aviatio n expert

o r eve n a n enthusiast . I

n fact , I inherite dth e projec t from apreviou s county executive . Th e engineer s wer e selecte dan dhire dfor

th e projec t

prio r t o m y ter mbeginning . I di dnot

oppos e th e projec t becaus e I believe di t

woul dhel p correc t

what I wa s tol dwer e 1 2 t o 1 3 FA A guidelin e violation s i n th e ol drunway . I truste dth e Count y Engineer , wh o actuall y serve d previousl y a s a

n enginee r

for Tennessee' s Divisio n o f Aeronautic s (TAD) , th e engineerin g fir

mo f HMB , an dth e professional personne l o f TA D for expert advice . Quit e simpl y a s state dbefore , amistak e wa s mad e b y TA D personne l o n th e lin e o f sigh t deviatio n fo

r runway s with full-lengt

h paralle l taxiways , whic h McMin n Count y wa s plannin g t o buil di n th e future . I understan dan dagre e wit h Mr . Ferrel l an dMr . Keyes ' positio n tha

t McMin n County i s technicall y th e airpor t owner , however , i n realit y rural countie s rel y heavily , no t onl y o n TAD' s financia

l support , but

als o o n thei r

technica l recommendation s a s well . Whe n TA D blesse dth e design , an dknowin g the y wer e payin g ninety percen t

o f th e projec t

I truste dan drelie do n thei r position . Concernin g th e renta l o f

th e Athen s Ai r

Cessn a17 2 I can onl y offe r th e FBO' s explanatio n tha

t thei r insuranc e compan y restrict s renta l t o th e instructor s liste do n th epolicy . I t ha s bee n explaine dto m e that sol o flight s b y student s ar e allowe dunde r th e instructin g pilot' s coverage . I als o wan t t o reiterat e that

McMin n County' s confrac t wit h th e FB O doe s no t

requir e plan e maintenance , flight trainin g o r

plan e renta l service s t o b e provide db y th e FBO . A s state di n a n earlie r response , w e are currentl y draftin g minimu mstandard s whic h wil l ultimatel y provid e guideline s for future servic e providers , i f the y s o choos e t o locat e a t th e McMin n County Airport . McMin n County offer s n o additiona l informatio n o n th e allege dvehicl e keyin g incident . I f i t happened , i t

di ds o whil e th e decease dformer FB O Bil l Johnso n was stil l operatin g th e airport

an dcaimo t

b e verifie do r

denied . I a

mconvince dthat

i t shoul dals o hav e bee n reporte dimmediatel y t o la w enforcemen t

for aprope r investigatio n an dwritte n report . McMin n County , an dmos t likel y al l partie s involved , sincerel y regre t ho w thi s entir e projec t unfolded . I t

seem s t o hav e bee n wrough t with problem s fromth e beginning . Th e FB O die dafter

avalian t figh t agains t cancer , th e lightin g contracto r wen t out o f business , TAD' s senio r

projec t manage r retire dan deve n th e engineerin g fir mo f HM B late r

pulle d ou t o f Tennessee . Somehow , a t th e ver y en dw e hav e amode man dsaf e airport facilit y whic h receive s grea t

review s b y it s user s an dvisitors . I a menclosin g som e recen t

letter s o f support w e hav e receive dsinc e I informe dth e County Commissio n an dother s o f thi s Par t 1 6 process . However , thre e pilot s wh o oppose dth e initia l projec t design , an dha d every personal , technica l an dconstitutiona l righ t t o d o so , remai n convince dthe y wer e discriminate dagains t

for doin g so . Thi s simpl y i s no t th e cas e an dw e DEN Y th e allegations . Agai n I wis h t o tel l Mr . Ferrel l an dother s the y ar e welcom e an dencourage dt o us e thes e ne w airport

facilities . McMin n County i s please dwith th e jo b performanc e o f Athen s Ai r LLC . an dw e ar e disappointe dMr . Ferrel l fail s t o appreciat e th e enthusias mth e othe r member s o f

th e loca l aviatio n communit y hol dfor th e airpor

t an dth e FBO' s services . I n summation , McMin n County DENIE S th e allegation s o f violatin g federa l gran t assurance s b y willfull y allowin g economi c discriminatio n an dknowingl y operatin g a n unsaf e airport . McMin n Count y request s th e allegation s b e DISMISSED , du e t o lac k o f verifiabl e evidenc e tha t

McMin n Count y o r

it s agent s willfull y operate dan unsaf e airpor t o r willfull y discriminate dagains t anyone .

M . Gentry McMin n Count y Mlayd

rEXHIBIT S

1 ) Waupac aIndustr y Lette r o f Support 2 ) Jame s P . Vreelan dLetter o f Support 3 ) Carl Bingha mLette r o f Support 4 ) RL K

Facilitie s Design , LT D Lette r o f Suppor tCERTIFICAT E O FSERVIC E

I HEREB Y CERTIF Y that o n Marc h 11 , 2009, 1 cause dt o b e place di n th e Unite dState s mai l (firs t clas s mail , postag e paid) , atru e cop y o f th e foregoin g documen t

addresse dto : FAA : Offic e o f

th e Chie f Counse l Attention : Par

t 1 6 Airport

Proceeding s Docke t

(AGC-610 ) Roo m92 5 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Ave. , S.W . Washington , D.C , 2059 1 Dewitt T . Ferrel l P.O . Bo x 20 6 Athens , TN 3730 3 Mr . Davi dCrew s Chairman , McMin n County Commissio n Chairman , McMin n County Airpor t Committe e McMin n County Courthous e 6 E . Madiso n Avenu e Athens , T N 3730 3

M . Gentry McMin n County Mayo r 6 Eas t Madiso n Avenu e Athens , T N 3730 3A ThyssenKrup p

Automotiv e Compan y 

## ThyssenKrup p Waupac a 

# n

McMin n Count y Mayor' s Offic e Attn : Mayo r

Joh n Gentr y 6 Eas t Madiso n Avenu e Athens , T N 3730 3 Dea r Mr . Gentry , M y nam e i s Shan e Lehman , an dI a mDirecto r o f Aviatio n fo r

ThyssenKrup p Waupaca , Inc . I wante dt o tak e amomen t t o complimen t

Athen s Ai r

a t McMin n Count y Airport . A s acorporat e pilot , I fl y int o man y differen t airport s acros s th e countr y an dhav e observe dman y differen t Fixe dBase dOperators . Athen s Ai r a t McMin n Count y i s on e o f th e finest

around . W e hav e tw o corporat e jet s an dlan da t McMin n Count y Airpor t multipl e time s aweek . Th e servic e w e receiv e t o ou r plane s an dcre w i s outstandin g an dver y professional . Krist y an dth e staf f ar e alway s willin g t o g o th e extr amil e fo r u s an dtak e car e o f

u s bot h during , an dafter , norma l busines s hours , whic h i s ver y helpfu l i n keepin g u s o n ou r schedule . I t

i s suc h arelie f

t o kno w w e ca n coun t

o n someon e t o tak e car e o f u s whe n w e arrive . W e loo k forwar dt o man y year s o f futur e busines s a t

McMin n Count y Airport . Shoul dyo u hav e an y questions , fee l free t o contac t me . Than k you . Shan e Lehma n Directo r o f Aviatio n shane.lehman(g>,thvssenkrupD.co m (920 ) 540-750 2

ThyssenKrup p Waupac a Inc . 195 5 Brunne rDrive , P.O . Bo x249 , Waupaca , W l 5498 1 Phone : (715 ) 258-6611 , Fax : (715 ) 258-926 8

# Jame s P . Vreelan dIII 21 8 Kiow aPoin t Loudon , T

N 3777 4 (865)458-314 1

February 21 , 200 9 McMin n Count yMayor , Joh n Gentr y 6 Eas t Madiso n Avenu e Athens , T N 3730 3 Dea rSir : Thi s i s jus t a not e fro m on e o f you rtenants . A s o f lat e I hav e hear d som e ba d vibe s abou t th e airpor t apparentlysprea d b ya fe w an d I wante d t o injec t a positiv e not e fro m someon e new . I arrive d a t you rairpor t onl ya fe w short year s ag o durin g m ymov e t o th e Knoxvill e are a bu t I remembe ri t lik e i t wa s yesterday . I wa s initiall ygreete d b yCurti s Bibl e wh o manage s o n weekends , an d I informe d hi m tha t I was lookin g fo ra plac e fo rm yplan e t o com e t o i n Tennessee . A t tha t tim e h e welcome d m e t o th e airpor t an d introduce d m e t o th e manage ra t th e time , Bill , an d introduce d m e aroun d t o al l th e othe rpeopl e aroun d th e airport . Comin g fro m th e nort h an d no t knowin g anyon e thi s was wel l receive d b yme . H e wen t ou t o f hi s wa yt o hel p m e re-locat e an d ha s bee n a goo d frien d eve r since . Afte rth e untimel ydemis e o f Bill , Krist yGentrybecam e th e ne w manager . I n m yopinio n sh e ha s breathe d ne w lif e int o th e airpor t wit h no t onl ya mor e youthfu l approac h bu t a femal e one . I d o no t ge t dow n t o th e airpor t a lo t becaus e o f th e distanc e tha t I liv e awa yfro m th e airpor t an d th e recen t hig h fue l price s bu t whe n I appear , th e operator s ar e alway s friendl yt o m e eve n thoug h the ydon' t se e m e t o often . I n conclusio n I woul d lik e t o than k you , th e count yan d th e staf f a t th e airpor t fo ryou rhospitalit yan d th e runnin g o f a nice , safe , clea n airport . I loo k fonward t o man ymor e year s o f ou rgrowin g partnership . Sincerely , 

# %m- - Jame s Vreelan dMarc h 6,200 9

Mayo r Joh n Gentry McMin n County Mayor s Offic e 6 Eas t Madiso n Avenu e Athens , TN 3730 3 Dear Mayo r Gentry , I t seem s tha t

i n today s hurrie dworld , mos t neve r findtim e t o compliment , but

onl y findtim e t o complain . However , after bein g i n busines s fo r mysel f for ove r 4 0 years , I wis h no t

t o confor mt o th e latte r

an dfee l com pelle dt o complimen t

whe n I se e exemplar y servic e an dorganization . I move d t o easter n Tennesse e 8 year s ag o fro mOdessa , Texa s wher e I gre w u p an dwa s i n th e rea l estat e an dautomobil e business . Aviatio n wa s a n importan t par t o f my busines s plan , an dan invaluabl e asset . Livin g i n th e wid e ope n space s o f Wes t Texa s I coul dhav e neve r hav e bee n abl e t o expan dmy businesse s withou t th e us e o f my airplanes . I ha dth e sam e 2 hangar s lease dfor ove r 2 5 year s an dbecam e very familia

r with th e "politics " tha t

sometime s exis t

betwee n th e FB O an dth e airpor t board . I sa w severa l FB O operator s com e an dg o durin g tha t tim e an d sa w first han dth e differenc e betwee n agoo dan daba dFB O operator . Whe n 1 first

move dt o Tellic o Villag e ( 8 year s ago ) I visite dMr . Johnson , wh o ra n th e airport

a t tha t time , an dpu t

m y nam e o n th e hangar

list . I ha dalway s bee n base da t

asmal l field(E02 ) an dreall y wante dt o b e bac k i n tha t environment . I wa s shocke dt o lear n o f th e short suppl y o f

hangar s i n Tennesse e an dende du p finall y bein g abl e t o pu t

my airplan e i n alarg e conmiimity hanga r a t McGhe e Tyso n unti l 4 year s late r

whe n I finally go t

aprivat e hangar . Durin g tha t tim e I continue dt o chec k atMM I hopin g t o ge t

ahangar a t tha t airport . Whe n the y finally starte d constructio n o n th e ne w hangar s I wa s excite dt o kno w tha t possibl y I coul d finall y b e locate dat

MMI . Durin g thi s tim e I me t Kristy Gentry wh o ha d take n ove r

afte r Mr . Johnson' s illnes s an dpassing . M y name , whic h ha d bee n o n th e lis t

for 8 years , was goin g t o b e very clos e a s t o whethe r I woul dge t ane w hangar . Whe n i t

got dow n t o th e final days , i t appeare dtha t

I was goin g t o mis s out b y on e name . I trie dt o fit m y plan e i n on e o f

tiie ol dhangars , howeve r du e t o th e extende dti p tank s i t woul dnot

fit (les s tha n 6 inche s clearanc e o n eac h wingtip) . 1 wa s disappointe dtha t I wa s s o close , an dye t

stil l no t goin g t o b e abl e t o ge t

ahangar . A fe w day s late r Christy calle dan dtol dm e tha t on e o f th e tenant s ha drecante do n movin g an dtha t my nam e was th e nex t

o n th e list , an dI coul dhav e i t

i f I wanted . Needles s t o say I mad e th e fastes t tri p t o MM I i n m

y lif e t o sig n u p an dmov e in . Durin g th e pas t

5 month s I hav e ha dachanc e t o observ e th e operation s a t MMI . I was totall y impresse dwith th e professiona l maime r i n whic h sh e handle d th e transitio n t o th e ne w hangar s a s wel l ho w sh e operate s th e FBO . I hav e foun d he r t o b e TOTALL Y hones t

abou t al l o f he r dealing s with customers—sh e prove d that t o m e with th e assignment s o f th e ne w hangars . I ca n assur e yo u tha t wher e I cam e from , th e "goo dol e boy " operatio n i s aliv e an dwell . Havin g bee n aroun dpilot sfor

ove r 4 0 years , I can tel l yo u tha t alo t o f the mthin k

that the y ar e th e onl y on e o n th e airport . I hav e watche dhe r mak e decision s that

reflec t goo dbusines s t o protec t her , a s wel l a s th e county , whe n i t woul dhav e bee n easie r

t o "cav e in " t o apilot s request . Aviatio n i s unde r aterribl e burde n durin g thes e time s o f increase dcost s o f

no t onl y fuel , but

als o insurance , maintenance , an dfederal regulations . Frankly , I d o no t se e i t gettin g bette r

i n th e near

future . Th e brigh t

spo t i s tha t Kristy an dCurti s ar e doin g agreat jo b t o reall y exemplif

y what i s GOO D abou t aviation . Th e service s tha t the y provid e o n adail y basi s i s centere do n givin g valu e an dSERVIC E t o th e tenant s o f th e airport

an dthe y reall y mak e apositiv e impressio n t o th e transien t pilot s tha t

sto p for fiiel. A clos e friend from Odess a(wh o too k

m y plac e o n th e E0 2 airport boar dwhe n I move dt o Tennessee ) stoppe di n at

MM I fo r fuel o n on e o f

hi s cros s country trip s t o se e hi s so n i n Atlanta , H e calle dm e an dende du p spendin g th e nigh t at my home . H e wa s very impresse dwith th e servic e an dw e discusse dwha t mad e MM I suc h agoo d experience . W e bot h conclude dtha t th e youth an denthusiEismfor aviatio n whic h Kristy exudes , a s wel l a s he r uncompromism g busines s sens e for honest y an dservice , wil l represen t

KMM I wel l for

year s t o come . Sh e ha s he r wor k cu t ou t fo r he r i n dealin g wit

h abunc h o f

olde r guy s (seem s lik e al l pilot s thes e day s ar e olde r guys ) that ar e "se t i n thei r ways" . I definitel y thin k

yo u hav e th e right

"girl " for th e job ! Sincerel y yours , Car l Bingha m Hangar #2 4

## RL KFacilite s Design , LT D Dlv . o f Reiste rEngineering , Inc .

Februar y22 , 200 9 Mr . Joh n Gentry M c Min n Count yMayor' s Offic e 6 Eas t Madiso n Ave . Athens , T N 3730 3 Re : M c Min n Counf i Dea rMr , Gentr ^ I a m \vritiTi g t ( 4 3 fc ' ^ .

'-•SiSS:'*^ ^ \Aj!;ia]^a'pleasure i t i s t o fl yint o you rairpor t f rt«;^nffiS s Dea n Food s facilitie s aromj d th e countr yIr^ ^ fti€ ^ndhes t o f anyw . per t 

# m folk s a t f t o f he rwa y f^TBiretiir n le g I certain W associated ^ fp/attitud e gyr o i n route ; Kr i d arrang e fo ra mechani c t o ge t m ypX&p e re a ?t%^fffandlr^l)>^TMatedit . ^,, , :: : ; .ggpiS f iii|e m o f a facilit ytha t yo u hav e there , an d encourag e al l thos e t o keeP^u p theiioutherF^spitali|y , friendl yattitud e an d goo d w/ork ! Cordi .

iW . Reister , P.E .

• . 1 r : •. } V t • i ' ^U'

-

144 0 2 1 S t Street • Rockford , Illinoi s 6110 8 • Phon e 815.227.010 0 • Fa x815.227.0130 • Emailjoe@relsterengineering.co m