City officials in Brownsville, Texas, have filed a notice to vacate on Taylorcraft Aviation LLC. The notice, filed Sept. 29, was effective immediately, but as of Oct. 12, when this issue went to press, Taylorcraft was still in its location at Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport.
City officials note that the eviction process was begun because the company, which has occupied city-owned hangar space for the better part of a year, is behind in rent and utilities payments to the tune of $108,900. City officials said they gave the company until Oct. 13 to vacate the premises.
“They gave me a notice to vacate,” confirmed Harry Ingram, president of Taylorcraft Aviation, during an interview Oct. 10. “But a notice to vacate is the step before eviction. They haven’t given us a date.”
Ingram has stated repeatedly that he has no intention of leaving the premises.
Ingram noted that Taylorcraft received a pay-out of $47,000 from the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corp. (GBIC) Oct. 3.
“That was the money that was promised to us to get us to move to Brownsville,” he said. “It appears that a partial payment of $47,000 was made, then we provided the incentive corporation with proper documentation to get another $85,000, which we expect to have approved Friday, Oct. 13. With these things changing, the city and I have a different look at each other.”
Repeated calls to Brownsville Mayor Eddie Trevino Jr., City Attorney Jim Goza, City Manager Charlie Cabler and Airport Manager Larry Brown were not returned by press time.
According to the Brownsville Herald, the $47,000 went to First National Bank to pay off an $85,000 loan the bank gave to Taylorcraft. According to public documents, airport manager Larry Brown put up $85,000 in taxpayer money as collateral on the loan.
Taylorcraft has been plagued with financial problems in the form of liens and judgments after taking money for repairs, parts or services, then failing to deliver. An auction to satisfy one of the judgments was held in September. A second auction was slated for Oct. 17.