MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A new fixed-based operator will be managing day-to-day operations of the Baldwin County Airport beginning next year.

C&A Aviation, a Milledgeville company, was selected to take over the management of the local airport after a Tuesday night decision by members of the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners.

The company’s owners are Chip Williams and Ashley Smith.

The new fixed-based operating company will replace Milledgeville Aviation, whose owner, Tom Osborne, has managed the Baldwin County Airport for the past 15 years.

Osborne’s company lease with Baldwin County expires at the end of December, said Jim Wolfgang, chairman of the Baldwin County Airport Committee.

“We had a total of five (companies) that showed some interest,” according to Brian Wood, who serves as county engineer. “Two are pretty much not legitimate, and one eventually just dropped out. So, we are left with two.”

His comments came during Tuesday night’s commission meeting, shortly before commissioners chose C&A Aviation over another firm from New Jersey who were planning to manage the local airport from afar, local officials said.

Wood said an internal scoring was done on C&A Aviation, as well as the company out of New Jersey.

“The point system was broken up into four categories — the first being based off the qualifications of the proposer and general manager — breaking down their experience and number of years in the service,” said Alex Ferrand, who works in the county’s GIS Department. “The second category was business planning and financial projections. The third category was a management operations plan, and the last being a minimum guarantee of rent, which is essentially how much money they would be paying to the county to be in the airport terminal building.”

After further discussion and analysis, County Manager Ralph McMullen said staff representatives had recommended C&A Aviation be awarded the contract.

Immediately after the recommendation, Commissioner Henry Craig made a motion that C&A Aviation be awarded the contract. Commissioner Johnny Westmoreland seconded the motion.

When Commission Chairman Sammy Hall called for the vote, he along with Commission Vice-Chairman Tommy French both voted to support the other two commissioners.

The other commissioner, Emily Davis, meanwhile, did not attend the meeting due to a family illness, according to Hall.

C&A Aviation is expected to take over official management operations of the airport on Jan. 1, 2018.