A push to rename the airport in Key West, Fla., in honor of Mobile native Jimmy Buffett appears to be gaining traction.

The Palm Beach Post reported a petition began circulating just days after the legendary singer-songwriter’s death on Sept. 1. As of Thursday, the petition had already gathered 22,994 signatures of the stated goal of 25,000.

Famous for hits including “Margaritaville” and “Son of a Sailor,” Buffett spent considerable time in the Florida Keys and his songs promoted the “island escapism” often associated with living in the Keys. Key West served as an inspiration for Buffett’s 1974 album “A1A” — the designation of the highway which connects the Keys with the Florida mainland.

Now, Key West and Monroe County residents are pushing to rename the Key West International Airport for their famous former resident, who was himself an accomplished pilot.

Facing a lengthy legal process to rename the airport, one Key West resident wasn’t willing to wait and took matters into his own hands. Using what appears to be black electrical tape to change the sign outside the airport to read “Key West Jimmy Buffett International Airport.”

Airport officials caught wind of the sign alteration and took it down within 15 minutes.

According to the newspaper, Monroe County commissioner Craig Cates is a former mayor of Key West and was a personal friend of Buffett’s. Cates said there are a number of factors involved in changing the airport’s name.

“We also are respectful of the family, you know,” he told the Post. “They’re mourning their loss, and so we have to be respectful of that. Then the other part with the Federal Aviation Administration. We’re making sure that we’d be allowed to change the name, which we probably will but that’s still a process.”

He also said there are trademark issues involved. The Monroe County attorney has contacted the CEO of Margaritaville Enterprises to begin addressing that issue.

Once all legal issues are addressed, Monroe County commissioners would put the name change in the form of a resolution which would then go before county voters.

Paul Menta has been a Key West resident for 35 years and coordinated the Sept. 3 parade in Key West honoring Buffett. While he’d like to see the airport named in Buffett’s honor, he will support the majority decision.

A second petition, to rename Highway A1A “Jimmy Buffett Highway”, has also started circulating, but hasn’t gained much traction as yet.

In the end, Menta said Key West doesn’t have to name its airport after Buffett to remember him.

“Key West has been the way Key West is for 200 years, that it really has just always been this weird, quirky place with a vibe,” he told the Post, “and I think Jimmy Buffett, having lived here actually, was the only one that went out there that actually had the right to say, ‘This is what Key West is all about.’ “