Okaloosa County BOCC — April 7, 2015 — BCC Letter to FAA

Board of County Commissioners State of Florida April 8, 2015 Ms. Deandra Brooks Airport Compliance Specialist US DOT, Federal Aviation Administration Southern Region Airports Division 1701 Colombia Avenue, Atlanta, GA, 30337-2747 RE: Response to FAA Letter of Inquiry dated April 1, 2015 Dear Ms. Brooks: On behalf of Okaloosa County’s Board of County Commissioners and its Department of Airports, this is to acknowledge receipt and thank you for your referenced letter. This letter is also the County’s official response to the request that a reply be sent within ten days of your letter. The Board wants to assure the Federal Aviation Administration that the County Commission, as the sponsor for the County’s airports and the sole policy making body governing the County’s System of three public-use airports and decision maker regarding the use of revenues they generate, has no intention to use airport enterprise funds for non-airport purposes. Furthermore, the Board, as the sponsor of three federally obligated public-use airports, affirms that it has always acted in compliance with the Federal grant assurances as required under Title 49, U.S.C. § 47107 (b), which represent a binding contractual obligation between the Board and the FAA and shall continue to specifically comply with Grant Assurance 25 and safeguard against the improper use of airport funds. The Board is extremely appreciative for the estimated $85 Million in grant funding that the FAA has provided to date for the improvement of the County’s airports and for this opportunity to respond to the article and set the record straight with the Board’s official position. 302 N. Wilson St • Crestview, FL 32536 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Suite 100 (850) 689-5030 • Fax: 689-5059 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850) 651-7105 • Fax: 651-7142 Ms. Brooks April 8, 2015 Page 2 The Board requests that the FAA close the compliance inquiry upon receipt of this letter and continue to partner with Okaloosa County in continuing to improve its system of airports as part of a viable national airport system. Sincerely, Nathan D. Boyles Chairman Cc: Okaloosa County Board Members Ms. Winsome Lenfert, Manager, Airports Division, Southern Region Mr. Bart Vernance, Manager, Orlando Airports District Office John Hofstad, County Administrator Greg Stewart, County Attorney Sunil Harman, Airports Director