Monroe Journal
MC Airport director begins term as state airports association president
By Ray Van Dusen
Since Wes Kirkpatrick took the Monroe County Airport director’s position in January 2011, it has been awarded more than $3.5 million in grants. In September, he assumed the role of president of the Mississippi Airports Association (MAA) Board of Directors, and securing adequate funding for airports throughout the state is one of his goals.
“Last year, we spoke to legislators to try getting an increase in multimodal funding. In conjunction with [Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Executive Director] Brad White, they decided to create the strategic multimodal improvement fund, and the legislature added $30 million for that this year,” Kirkpatrick said.
He was originally appointed to the MAA Board of Directors in 2019 and served as vice president for the past year and a half.
“After I was put on the MAA board, I was able to make a lot of contacts and learn more about airport development. In dealing with local government here and serving through other civic duties, I have learned to be more vocal and outspoken. Two MAA board members said that’s why they nominated me as president. I have a tendency to sit in a room and be quiet to gather all my information and then make my comment,” he said.
In reference to traditional multimodal funds, Kirkpatrick said MDOT annually contributes $10 million divided between airport, ports, rail and public transit, and airports received $3.4 million.
“This new fund is a huge improvement for us, especially if we’re going to get $10 million,” he said. “For the last several weeks, I have been working with several other members of the board to try pushing for $10 million and pushing for scoring criteria for applications. In the next several months, a lot of my focus will be on that fund because it’s left to the legislature each year of what dollar amount they want to contribute.”
He said multimodal funding hasn’t changed since 2005 but with significantly increased construction costs, the money doesn’t go as far.
The MAA is also lobbying for more entitlement funds for airports through the Federal Aviation Administration. Since 2003, the Monroe County Airport has received $150,000 each year.
“Those were 2003 dollars, and it doesn’t go as far,” Kirkpatrick said, adding there has been communication with senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith’s offices regarding the need for equitable funding. “We’re trying to tie it to the size of the airport. If you’re not a commercial-sized airport, it’s $150,000, whether if you’re our size with 30 based airplanes or Lumberton with four based airplanes.”
He said the $150,000 would still help smaller airports, but Monroe County’s need is closer to $350,000 to $400,000.
As far as the economic impact, Mississippi’s airports create $2.5 billion in economic activity, 20,025 jobs and $722 million in payroll, according to a statewide study published in 2012.
For the Monroe County Airport, the study indicated roughly $2.7 million in economic impact, 17 jobs and $487,000 in payroll.
An updated study is one of Kirkpatrick’s goals.
“That was eye opening to a lot of us in the state because we don’t think about how many times those dollars turn over,” he said.
Since 2018, the Monroe County Airport has been a preferred fixed-base operator with the Corporate Airport Association, which resulted in 2,863 gallons in fuel sold, or $9,500, that year from planes refueling. To date this year, 18,157 gallons have been sold, which equates to $76,000.
“Once people come here, they like it. They like the airport because it’s easy to get in and out of, it has a nice terminal building, and it’s a quick turnaround since we can get right to them for fueling. I see people who started coming here in 2018, and they still make it a fueling stop when they’re flying across the country. We’re making new customers every day, and they turn into repeat customers,” Kirkpatrick said.
Monroe County Airport projects in the past 12 years include taxiway, runway and apron rehabilitations; a new terminal building; an updated master plan; relocation of weather reporting equipment; installation of new vertical guidance systems; upgrades to runway lighting to LED; and the addition of taxiway lighting.
MDOT funds have helped extend the apron to the south and provide for a ground power unit, fueling system rehabilitation and an agriculture aircraft apron.
The airport is awaiting confirmation for a federal funding request for a runway extension, but it’s not finalized yet.
In other roles as board president, Kirkpatrick will make appointments to the MDOT multimodal funding committee, which scores applications for projects. He’ll also make appointments within the MAA.
Out of Mississippi’s 76 airports, 28 have membership in the MAA, which Kirkpatrick hopes to increase.
“When I first got on the board, we had 21 or 22 airport members, so we have grown. It’s an uphill battle because several smaller airports don’t have full-time management and are run by somebody in city government,” he said.
He has been in communication with consulting firms associated with some of the smaller airports regarding potential sponsorships to attend a conference to entice membership and give their officials an opportunity to learn and network.