It has become increasingly apparent that Camden’s elected officials do not understand what actually goes into a business leader’s decision to expand their business into Camden County.
I wonder how the Camden County Joint Development Authority answers such a question? Do they say, “NO airport. You’ll have to locate elsewhere.” Or do they say, “We’re only about 30 minutes’ drive from 5 airports (BQK, SSI, JAX, CRG(JAXEX), and FHB) that can handle almost any type of corporate aircraft.”
And it seems a bit of an exaggeration that “the very first question most of them ask is if you have an airport.” Afterall, there are more than 115,955 businesses with greater than 100 employees in the United States, but there are only about 22,000 business aircraft. Coca-Cola which has three Gulfstreams, will not need to fly to Airport Camden. There are very few companies that might need an airport. Frankly, the very low airport-to-airport flight use of St Marys’ airport proved that the vast majority of businesses neither use nor need a local minimalist airport nearby.
I have personal experience trying to develop a substantial business in Camden County. In 2012, my Atlanta company needed an industrial factory space to build a $240 million job. I was responsible for finding a spot, and since I was traveling weekly to Camden to monitor the construction of my home, I looked here first for a location for the 135 jobs for certified welders, electricians, warehouse workers, and forklift and crane operators who would get full Atlanta-level benefits. For instance, in 2013, we paid welders about $25.00 an hour plus medical and retirement benefits.
We didn't need any freebies. Still, Camden had nothing to offer us. But it did have something that meant nothing to our needs: St. Marys Airport. Camden did not have an available heavy industrial space but Jesup did. An added bonus is that our factory had a rail spur so we could ship our massive products by rail to the Ohio job. We opened the factory with 135 jobs in Wayne County. About 30 of those skilled workers commuted daily from Camden County to our Jesup plant. I’ve been told by Business Location Strategy experts that a local airport places 5th or lower on the list of ‘essentials’ for most companies. PS: We shipped 166 rail cars of machinery from our factory and never needed to know how to get to Wayne County's airport.
Then there is Commissioner Brant’s suggestion that the new airport does not need to undergo a Benefit-Cost Analysis because the FAA doesn’t require it for a “replacement” airport. Does it matter that the county's fiscal responsibility is an important consideration for Mr. Brant's constituents?
If this attitude is what passes as responsible management of our taxes, we need better leadership. In fact, after a two-hour sit down this week with two airport consultants who have a more realistic about rural General Aviation (“GA”) airports, I learned that having an airport is mostly a “political decision” not related to evidence that economic liability is most often an unknowable risk factor that should be considered.
The FAA Benefit-Cost financial risk assessment is routinely required. But despite few former St Marys-based aircraft are still in Camden County, and that St Marys will no longer sponsor the airport, and that the airport will no longer be in the heart of Camden’s commercial business districts or even close to NSB Kings Bay, it is hard to believe the FAA will ultimately agree that Airport Camden is a replacement for St Marys Airport. Additional proof is that the Georgia Department of Transportation says that the new airport is justified because it will also serve Charlton County. IN FACT, the FAA Benefit-Cost Analysis instructions (see page 70 of the linked document below) does not appear to allow the former St Marys Airport to be considered a "replacement" airport.
Page 5 of the FAA Airport Benefit Cost Guidance document discusses Common Mistakes in Defining Benefits and Costs indicating Airport Camden should be considered a new airport that does not serve as a replacement for St Mary Airport.
And finally;
The Commissioners’ consultant has already told us that under their best guesstimates, the airport will cost Camden County taxpayers $5,018,914 (minimum).
So if spending at least $5 million on Airport Camden is OK with Lannie Brant without a Benefit-Cost Analysis, it must be OK for Camden taxpayers.
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