Finance director Wayne Putnal talks with the Tifton City Council about the Henry Tifton Myers Airport financial reports.

TIFTON — The Tifton City Council voted unanimously Monday night to cancel the memorandum providing operation funds for the Henry Tift Myers Airport for the next fiscal year.

The city has been providing $50,000 a year for “operational funding” since 2013, when the memorandum was approved.

Along with the city, the county and the Tift County Development Authority each provide $50,000 each year, due on July 1.

The memorandum requires the city (or the county or development authority) to give notice at least four month before the end of the fiscal year if they want to change the memorandum.

Smith and council members indicated they would be open to other methods of providing funding for the airport, but not through the 2013 memorandum.

“Nobody disputes the fact that the airport is an important part of this community,” said Tifton Mayor Julie Smith. “And it does add a layer for economic development…Having an airport in TC is very beneficial. But we have to be very mindful about how we fund that airport with city resident’s tax dollars.”

“When the county puts $50,000 from the general fund to the airport, every resident that lives in Tift County is paying for the airport,” said council member Jack Folk. “When the city in turn puts $50,000 dollars…the residents of the city of Tifton are paying again. I’ve railed about it again and again. Why are the city residents paying twice?”

“Should we be funding a county enterprise fund for the [airport] authority?” asked council member Frank Sayles. “Unless it is an authority, we shouldn’t consider it.”

Tifton Mayor Julie Smith told the council that the development authority planned to continue funding.

Talking after the meeting, Smith mentioned hotel motel tax funds as a possible way for the city to support the airport moving forward.

“That’s still to be discussed,” said Smith.

“It’ll take all of us, the city council and the county commission sitting down and discussing service delivery negotiations.”

The county and the city are entering into service delivery agreement negotiations this year, something required from the state once every decade.

Service delivery agreements can involve everything from water/sewer service to fire and law enforcement, from roads to airports.

The council discussed talking with the county to establish a timeline and set meeting dates.

“We probably need to be well into it by the first part of May,” said city manager Pete Pryzenski. “It is going to take some discussions.”

Folk asked Pryzenski to reach out to the county if he hasn’t heard from them by Feb. 21.

The council approved two zoning ordinances.

The first reclassified certain lots from single family to two-family.

The second amended zoning requirements for minimum gross floor area, building locations and lot area and width for city zoning.

Passing the two ordinances also listed the moratorium on new construction the council implemented in January.

The council also:

• awarded the bid to expand the parking lot at the senior center to Reeves Construction.

• passed a resolution urging the state legislature for more local control of fireworks.

• designated the annual Rhythm and Ribs BBQ Festival as a festival under the city’s ordinance.

• approved alcohol licenses for Save-A-Lot, El Patron and Taco Loco.

• amended alcohol licenses for The Gin and The Shell Station on Hwy 41.