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 council set to consider $33,342 match for new airport hangar as airport authority raises rates and reports upgrades
What city leaders will decide first
The Greeneville City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to provide a $33,342 match to support four grants that would fund most of a new hangar at the Greeneville Municipal Airport. The hangar project is estimated to cost about $1.3 million, with the bulk of that paid for by grant funds. The council meeting starts at 4 p.m. in the G. Thomas Love Boardroom at the Greeneville Energy Authority building, 110 N. College St.
Why timing matters
Airport staff say some grant funds are set to expire soon and that moving forward will prevent the loss of about $150,000 in grant money. The project has already been bid and needs an award before the bid expires on Sept. 23, 2025. If approved, construction is planned to begin this fall and wrap up in the spring.
Other council items on Tuesday
The council will also consider increasing the town’s match for the State of Tennessee Property Tax Relief program from the current 50% to 100%. The state’s contribution dropped for 2025, reducing elderly applicants’ state relief from $136 in 2024 to $107 in 2025. At a 50% town match, participants would receive $161 in total local relief for 2025 versus $204 in 2024. Doubling the town match to 100% would bring total relief for 2025 to about $214 and would cost the town an additional $9,165. The council will also consider a change order of $18,217 for ongoing sewer repairs at the Greeneville-Greene County Library and a special event application for a Greene County remembrance event planned for Sept. 29 on a section of Main Street.
Airport authority actions: rates, lease changes and tenant rules
At its recent meeting, the Greeneville Municipal Airport Authority unanimously approved a 15% increase in monthly T-hangar lease rates and raised office lease rates by roughly the same percentage. The three hangar tiers moved from $155, $175 and $225 per month to $180, $200 and $260 per month. Office rents rose from $60, $115 and $150 to $70, $135 and $175 monthly. The hikes are expected to generate just over $26,000 in extra annual revenue.
The board also approved a revised lease document intended to make sure hangars are used to store working, airworthy aircraft rather than as general storage. The board voted mostly in favor, though one member requested additional legal clarification about whether the cited state code properly applies to airport hangars. A main method for confirming airworthiness will be requiring proof that planes have been inspected by a certified Federal Aviation Administration mechanic, which is normally done annually.
Context for the rate change
The airport compared local hangar rates with nearby airports. For example, Morristown’s hangars were listed at $335 and $365 per month, Elizabethton at $285 to $300, Virginia Highlands from $155 to $280, and Rogersville at $140 for community hangars and $160 for private hangars. Board members said the increase is one step toward improving airport revenue but not the complete solution; some members asked for another review in a year.
Safety and tenant updates
A black bear and her cubs that had been living on airport grounds since late June have been removed after wildlife officials set up motion-activated sirens as a non-lethal deterrent. The wetland inside the airport fence had been attracting the animals and could not be removed because it is protected. The airport had staff and users concerned after sightings, including an instance where a bear crossed the runway. The sirens appear to have worked, and the animals have not been seen in several weeks.
The authority also approved a small hangar addition for a tenant to accommodate a plane that is about five feet too long for its current hangar. The 40-foot-wide by 10-foot-deep “doghouse” addition will be built at no cost to the airport and will allow either the nose or tail of the plane to fit inside.
Recent and planned facility improvements
The airport has completed several upgrades since August. A new pilot lounge was created by combining a small office and flight planning room; the lounge includes two recliners, a TV, a laptop, Wi‑Fi and a charging tower. That renovation cost about $3,500. Three new mini split heating and cooling units were installed at no cost to the airport through an FAA Airport Coronavirus Response Grant, a roughly $13,000 improvement. A new roof on the fixed base operator building was completed for $29,000 via an American Rescue Plan grant; the previous roof dated to 1969. New signage was added welcoming pilots to Greeneville and Greene County, and additional signage and apron repaving are planned. Once paving is finished, all pavement and tarmac at the airport will be less than three years old.
Funding outlook and community events
The airport’s FAA designation changed from local to regional due to higher traffic, which boosts grant eligibility. As a regional airport the facility will be eligible to apply for up to about $295,000 in grant funds over a five-year period under federal infrastructure law, compared with about $155,000 as a local airport. That designation runs from 2023 through 2028 and should give access to more than an extra $100,000 in grant funding for the next five years.
Short-term operational notes: the runway will have a maintenance closure on Sept. 3 from 5 p.m. to midnight. The annual Wings and Wheels event is set for Sept. 27. The third annual 5K on the Runway, hosted by the local Civil Air Patrol squadron, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12; preregistration is $25 and race-day registration is $35.
FAQ
Will the council meeting decide the hangar funding?
The council will consider a request to provide a $33,342 local match for grants that would help build a new hangar. The vote will determine whether the town adds that match to the grant package.
Why is the hangar project urgent?
Several grant awards are nearing expiration and the project has already been bid. Moving ahead now prevents the loss of approximately $150,000 in grant funding and keeps the current bid valid until Sept. 23, 2025.
How much will hangar rent increase and what revenue will it bring?
Hangar rates rose by 15% to three new monthly levels: $180, $200 and $260. Office rents also increased. The changes are expected to yield a little over $26,000 in extra annual revenue.
Is the airport safe after the bear sightings?
Wildlife officials installed motion-activated sirens and the bear and cubs have not been seen in several weeks. The wetlands that attracted the animals are protected and cannot be removed, but the non-lethal deterrent has cleared the animals from airport grounds for now.
What improvements have been completed recently?
A pilot lounge was added, new heating and cooling units were installed via an FAA grant, a new roof was placed with ARP funds, and new signage was installed. Additional apron paving and runway-end signs are planned.
How will state tax relief changes affect local residents?
The state reduced the elderly property tax relief amount for 2025. If Greeneville keeps a 50% match, participants would receive $161 in total relief in 2025 versus $204 in 2024. Increasing the town match to 100% would raise 2025 relief to about $214 and cost the town roughly $9,165.
Key features at a glance
| Topic | Key Facts | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Hangar funding | $1.3M project; city match requested $33,342; prevents $150K grant loss; bid deadline Sept. 23, 2025 | Enables new revenue-generating hangar; construction start this fall if approved |
| Lease rates | Hangars: $180/$200/$260 (from $155/$175/$225); Offices: $70/$135/$175 | About $26K more per year for airport operations |
| Facility upgrades | Pilot lounge ($3,500); mini splits ~$13,000 (FAA grant); new roof $29,000 (ARP) | Better comfort, energy savings, improved first impressions |
| Wildlife safety | Bear and cubs removed after motion-activated sirens installed | Reduced runway strike risk and safer operations |
| Grant access | FAA designation changed to regional (2023–2028): eligible for up to $295K over 5 years | More federal grant money available for projects and maintenance |
| Community events | Runway maintenance Sept. 3; Wings and Wheels Sept. 27; 5K on the Runway Nov. 12 | Continued public use and outreach from airport |
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
Author: Construction TX News
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