LEDGER — A plot of county-owned land near Mitchell High School in Ledger will soon be utilized as a helicopter landing zone after the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners during its regular meeting on Monday, April 19 unanimously approved the use of the land for a helipad for emergency medical operations on a 10-year lease.
Ledger Fire Department Chief Tim Renfro addressed the board during the meeting about the need for a helipad in Ledger, which he said became apparent when a helicopter recently had issues landing at the high school because of lights, power lines and other obstructions.
Renfro said he met with representatives from Mission Health’s Mountain Area Medical Airlift (MAMA) division and Wings Air Rescue and all of them agreed that the 30-by-30-foot Ledger site would be suitable for a landing zone.
“It’s pretty heavy with brush,” Renfro said. “It needs to be thinned out.”
Board Chair Matthew “Vern” Grindstaff asked Renfro if he had concrete or dirt in mind for the landing zone to which Renfro said he envisions grass right now because of the lease terms.
Grindstaff said the addition of the helipad will be a “great thing” for the county and Renfro added that it will also improve access to emergency air transports on the north end of the county.
“It’s not just for the Ledger community,” Renfro said. “It’s for the whole of Mitchell County, especially for the north end coming south.”