BARTOW, Fla. - Bartow Executive Airport is no longer in unincorporated Polk County; it's now part of the City of Bartow.

The backstory:

City Commissioners voted unanimously last week to annex Bartow Executive Airport off US-17.

The city commission is the airport authority board, so City Manager Mike Herr says it just made sense for the city to also govern the airport's land use.

With the construction of the Central Polk Parkway connecting to the highway, the hope is that the airport will become a major transportation hub.

"As we continue to invest in the airport with infrastructure and attract more business for job creation, it gives that unanimity and identity we believe is important for marketing purposes," said Herr.

Herr says the annexation was a win-win for the city and the ai

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