County Council approves match for airport grant

By BILL RICHMOND

City editor

Randolph County Council Tuesday approved a motion to provide $250,000 as matching funds for $4.5 million Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport improvement grant. Half of the match will be reimbursed by the state, although airport representatives cautioned it may take a while.

"We're planning an important next step, building a new runway," said Don Manley, vice president of airport development for Butler, Fairman and Seufert. "We are currently acquiring land to build that runway."

Manley said the main part of the airport expansion will occur this year and next. He said statistics show that for every dollar invested in the airport expansion, the county will see $38 in return.

"Ultimately, we're targeting a 5,000 foot runway," he said. "But they don't have enough land to permit it at this time."

The current grant will be used to create a 4,300 foot runway while converting the current runway, which is just over 3,900, into a parallel taxiway.

Council airport liaison Ralph "Bud" Harris said he is in favor of the airport expansion as an economic development tool for the county.

In other business, County Highway Supervisor Andrew "Tom" Shannon presented council with a copy of his departmental 2007 year-end summary, including projections for 2008. He said if they have any questions about the report he will answer them at a future meeting.

"I was pleased with last year," Shannon said. "I wasn't satisfied - I would always like to do more with the manpower and finances we're given. Our roads are being asked to do a lot more than they were ever designed to do. We're trying to get as much longevity as we possibly can, to get the biggest bang for our buck."

Shannon said each year he has been in charge of county highways has seen a reduction in funding from the state, except in the two prior years when that decrease was offset by Major Moves money.

He said the county highway workers operate well as a team.

"I wouldn't trade the county highway crew we have for anybody," he said.

Gordon Jackson and Dan Kirtley reported to council on the county's 4-H program.

"On behalf of the leaders, I appreciate your financial and moral support," Jackson told council. "We've got a great facility out there and we're proud of it."

Kirtley said 4-H enrollment nights are coming up at the fairgrounds and a new feature, online enrollment, will begin this year.

"That's one investment we're sure getting our money's worth out of," said councilman Max Edwards.