A County-Owned Hangar, Built to Order

Both Metova and Brooke Development were wholly-owned by Brad Hasselwander

Rob Finley was chairman of the Airport Commission at the time, and also had a partnership with Brad Hasselwander.  Airport Commissioner Mark Carney was the attorney of record for Mr. Hasselwander. Mr. Carney led the discussion of the project and both he and Mr. Finley abstained from voting, although at that point they could be certain the motion would pass even without their votes. This may represent a conflict-of-interest ethics violation. It is troubling to say the least.

The hangar is a 100 x 100 Steel frame building, with another 2000 ft2 Area as living quarters. It is a first class space for which the tenant can be proud. When the Commission began to investigate the leasing arrangement, Judge Litty stepped in front of the process knowing that, absent a lease, the situation would have ultimately ended up as an eviction order.

Mr. Litty had received campaign donations from the Hasselwanders of the maximum allowed. These were multiple meetings, some contentious, between Airport Commission Chairman Vester, Judge Litty, and prosecuting attorney, David Etherege. The Commission had a problem with the rate being below market value even in 2017, and the discussions at the Commission centered around the fact that no written lease had been executed. County Attorney David Ethredge maintained that the minutes themselves amounted to a lease.  Efforts towards further negotiations to allow the rental rate to escalate over the term of the lease and other common lease provisions were blocked by Judge Litty. 

County Judge Litty therefore negotiated and executed a lease with the tenant without commission knowledge or approval.It appears the Judge overstepped his authority by negotiating a lease that was substantially favorable to his campaign sponsors, and at substantial cost for the County. The lease matter will be addressed further later in this document.

There are multiple leases on airport property, but this is the only one that Judge Litty has decided to intervene in. The political influence here is painfully obvious when you consider that Hasselwander made the largest contribution amount allowed, and then Hasselwander’s wife donated as well. And, Judge Litty has been well rewarded with travel options in aircraft owned by Hasselwander.