ST. MARYS - A judge has ruled the St. Marys Airport Authority has no say in relocating the city's municipal airport.

In his ruling, Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett said the disagreements between the city and the authority are "purely political" and the city has the right to "force a relocation of the airport" without taking the wishes of the airport authority into account.

Some members of the City Council want to again explore moving the airport 18 miles away to a site near Woodbine donated by Sea Island Co.

Although he was on the winning side, Mayor Rowland Eskridge said Scarlett's ruling does not change the voter-imposed financial constraints that make moving the airport unlikely.

In a July referendum, voters approved city officials continuing discussions on moving the airport if it does not cost taxpayers money.

"I don't see how it can be done," he said. "Anything we do now related to the airport will cost money."