Published March 6, 2024
In response to an official GRAMMA request to show FAA correspondence between
December 1, 2023 and January 25, 2024, the following document has been provided by the City of Hurricane:
FAA - request for repayment of grant
($137,100.00)
Audio recordings and transcripts of the meeting called by Mayor Billings
between the airport board, and the FAA to discuss the airport lighting project.
Discussion items included the validity of the FAA's approval process, as well as a discussion of the repayment process for the
grant.
Throughout this document you will see that the FAA was challenged by Mayor Billings
and a citizen about the validity of the FAA’s review process. The FFA representatives
held firm and did not waver in their answers. The review process is the same, with
safety being a major concern. The review process was valid.
Mayor Billings made statements about the FAA having a meeting with Charles Reeve
and disapproving of the lighting in the past. Mr. Reeve has stated publicly that he called
Mayor Billings and told her that statement is not true. He also sent an email to tell the
city council that the mayor’s statement was not true.
Many times, in this recording you hear the Mayor and Jason Campbell ask the FAA
representatives if the grant money that was already spent by the City of Hurricane
would have to be paid back. Each time the FAA responded that it would be required to
be paid back.
The bottom line is that Mayor Billings knew well in advance of the city council vote that
the grant would have to be paid back. We believe she concealed this information from
the citizens and city council that voted and continues to believe that the grant will not
have to be paid.
Link to the FAA meeting's audio recording
(Audio recordings are required by law)
Link to the FAA meeting's written audio transcription
(PDF file available for printing)
Hurricane City Council meeting's audio recording
(Private citizen's offer to pay back the FAA grant if necessary)
Hurricane City Council - meeting written audio transcription
(Private citizen's offer to pay back the FAA grant if necessary) (PDF file available for printing)