Elizabethton Council Proposes Renaming Airport to Honor Bill Greene

Elizabethton Municipal Airport may soon bear a new name if the Airport Commission accepts a recent recommendation from the City Council. During a meeting on October 5, 2023, council members voted to honor longtime Airport Commission member William B. Greene Jr. by proposing that the airport be renamed the William B. Greene Jr. Airport.

The motion came from Councilman Richard Barker, who emphasized Greene’s significant contributions to the establishment and development of the airport. Barker highlighted that Greene’s “vision and tenacity” were instrumental in bringing aviation to Elizabethton. “Without Bill Greene, we wouldn’t have the airport we have now,” Barker stated, calling it “a model airport” for the state of Tennessee. He noted Greene’s pivotal role in the mid-1960s when he worked diligently to secure the airport’s establishment in Nashville.

Earlier this year, the airport manager, Dan Cogan, received recognition as Airport Manager of the Year from the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission and the Tennessee Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division, further solidifying the airport’s reputation under Greene’s influence.

The council unanimously approved the motion to rename the airport, which was seconded by Councilman Wes Frazier. If the Airport Commission endorses the recommendation, the City Council plans to present a formal resolution at a regular meeting later this month.

Additional Council Actions

Beyond the airport renaming proposal, the City Council addressed several other agenda items during the meeting. They passed a resolution authorizing city staff to apply for a $500,000 downtown improvement grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The city had previously received similar grants of $150,000 in 2021 and $300,000 in 2023, which funded various projects aimed at enhancing the downtown area.

As part of the grant process, the city is required to match 25 percent of the total cost for any public improvements. This includes matching fees for the administration of the grant by the First Tennessee Development District, with additional funds provided by private subgrantees.

The council also awarded a contract worth $35,538 to Pavement Technology Inc. from Westlake, Ohio, for the application of asphalt maltene-based preservation to eleven city streets. Matthew Balogh, the GIS and engineering manager, explained that this treatment could significantly extend the lifespan of road surfaces that are less than three years old. He noted that the cost to implement this preservation treatment is approximately 6.5 percent of the cost to resurface the roads, while potentially increasing their lifespan by 25 percent.

In a separate matter, a resident from Orchard Road raised concerns about mosquitoes in her neighborhood, attributing the issue to disposed tires collecting water at a nearby business, Birchfield Tire and Recapping. City Manager Daniel Estes assured residents that city staff are actively monitoring the business to ensure compliance with city codes and regulations.

The City Council continues to work on projects and initiatives aimed at improving the community, with a focus on sustainable growth and public health. The potential renaming of the airport stands out as a tribute to an individual whose efforts have left a lasting impact on Elizabethton.