ROCKLAND – Knox County Commissioners met on Tuesday, September 13, via Zoom. Commissioner Sharyn Pohlman was not in attendance.  

As part of their agenda, they were to authorize the county administrator to sign the purchase and sales agreement for the 32 Benner Lane hangar complex owned by the Owls Head Transportation Museum in the amount of $750,000. 

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Lauren Dillard, speaking as a citizen of Owls Head disclosed that she also serves on the Owls Head Airport Committee.  

Dillard spoke directly to the county’s proposed purchase for the airport.  

Dillard quoted commissioner Dorothy Meriwether from last February where she said, “the county had no intentions of expanding the airport property line.”  

Dillard cited the town of Owls Head’s recent vote for a moratorium on airport expansion and the county’s continued reassurances that it would not do so. She also urged the commissioners to hold a public hearing on the proposed purchase. 

Kevin Bedford executive director of the Owls Head Transportation Museum said of the property at 32 Benner Lane, “we’ve been in talks for quite some time.”  

Benner said the purchase would mean the museum would get some partial funding for a new building they want to build on the northeast side of their property. 

“It would mean we could build a building of roughly the same storage capacity,” he said, “but for us, closer to home. A walk rather than a drive to get back and forth.”  

The construction is part of a capital campaign and only part of the building the museum plans on doing over the next year according to Bedford including renovations to the existing building and expansion of their educational programs.  

Bedford said the proposed cost of the new space would be in the neighborhood of $950,000 and the purchase by the county of 32 Benner Lane would go a long way to help fund that.   

Jeremy Shaw, Knox County Airport Manager said the property already is in the perimeter of the airport and would not add to the perimeter. He said in addition the airport was hoping to sell a parcel of land to Owls Head the airport owns. 

That property contains a cemetery now leased to the town.  

Shaw said the overall area of the airport will not increase. In addition, Shaw said the additional hangers that already occupy the property would create tax revenue for Owls Head.  

Knox County Administrator Andrew Hart said the purchase was originally on the commissioner’s June agenda and was tabled because they needed a, “review appraisal,” of the appraisal that was done. 

Attorney Jim Katsiaficas said since the property falls within the perimeter of the airport, the county does not need the town’s approval to purchase the property.  

“It is a private sale between the county and the museum,” he said.  

Shaw said that if the county owned the property, it would have control over what happens there.  

Commissioner Rick Parent said he wanted to be a friendly neighbor and this issue seems to agitate more than please.  

Meriwether said Dillard made good arguments and to her knowledge it was never her intent to enlarge or expand the airport.  

“On the surface it appears that way,” she said, “but if you consider the actual acreage of the airport we are basically swapping, so it is not increasing the actual acreage.”  

Meriwether said the county has a very strong desire to maintain good relations with Owls Head.  

“It’s been difficult and challenging,” she said. “And I personally believe we have bent over backwards to try and cooperate.” 

Meriwether pointed out that if the county controlled the hangers, Owls Head would benefit more than if it was held by a private business. She also pointed out that the transportation museum wants the funds to expend its educational programs.  

Meriwether said she was not comfortable voting on this without commissioner Pohlman present. Parent said he would like more input as it was not his intent to agitate anyone.  

Commissioners voted to table the item until their next meeting.