A new committee will be formed to investigate and develop a path forward for Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport.
City council was nearly split on each decision regarding the airport's future during Monday's meeting.
Councillor Adam Kilner's motion to reestablish the option of a Municipal Services Corporation (MSC) failed in a 5-4 vote, with opposition from Councillors Bill Dennis, George Vandenberg, Terry Burrell, Chrissy McRoberts, and David Boushy.
The option to have a MSC was initially approved in June 2025 but reconsidered during January's council meeting.
"Every time we keep flip-flopping, it removes opportunity," Kilner said.
However, Councillor Burrell continued to voice concerns over the "very expensive cost" of establishing a MSC.
"The real problem with setting this up is that we don't have a firm revenue source," Burrell said. "Until we get to that point, setting up some way of operating that is just going to be people making expense decisions that won't be going through council."
Councillors Anne Marie Gillis and Brian White, who voted in favour of reestablishing the MSC option, both noted the importance of moving on.
"This is not a leap of faith. We are doing our due diligence, we are getting these reports, we still have control over everything I see," Gillis said. "I think it's time to stop debating the issue. We already decided to do this, let's get on with it."
White also hinted at "very exciting prospects" for the airport discussed during closed meetings.
"Seeding doubt in the minds, in the hearts, of potential investors is not the right path right now," said White, who also noted a ticking clock with a new council due to be sworn in in the fall.
Meanwhile, Councillor Burrell's motion to have a committee work with city staff and members of the public and report back to council in June passed, again, with a 5-4 vote. Councillors Gillis, White, Kilner, and Mayor Bradley voted against the motion.
"We have the tools and I think if we work together, the various groups, we can come up with a reasonable plan," Burrell said.
Burrell also clarified that this will be a temporary committee meant to investigate possible avenues for the airport and is not intended to be the committee that eventually handles operations.
Councillor Kilner questioned the June timeline as being too long.
Councillor McRoberts asked for the committee to include two council members and for applications to be considered from experienced aeronautical community members.
"We had a committee that was established with private sector people," noted Mayor Bradley. "This is like Groundhog Day. We're just going through the same thing again."
The headlease with Scottsdale Aviation is set to expire in 16 months.
City staff have stressed the importance of implementing a plan before the expiration date so the airport remains in compliance with Transport Canada regulations.
