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Last updated on Wednesday, July 30, 2014
(BEDFORD) - Work on the 4,500-foot runway at Virgil I. Grissom Municipal Airport could begin soon if the facility can land a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.
According to Jeff Lytton, the Lawrence County Board of Aviation Commissioners say the runway was last repaired in 1973. Because of the rough runway, the airport and county has lost business.
Rehabilitating the runway with concrete (which has a longer lifespan) will cost about $4 million. That price includes not only rehabbing the runway, but also building a turn-around at one end, installing new lights and grooving the surface for safety.
The FAA grant would cover 90 percent of the cost and money from the Indiana Department of Transportation would pay for 5 percent. That leaves a local match of 5 percent -- about $200,000.
The airport already has about $120,000 in a runway improvement fund. Lytton asked the county council for the remaining $80,000.
Lytton stressed the plans are contingent on the federal and state financing.
Council member Gene McCracken told the council they could use money in the Rainy Day Fund to cover the cost.
The council could take no action on the request, but there was an additional appropriation from one of the county's funds advertised in the Times-Mail notifying the public of the proposal.
The council could discuss their option at their August 26 meeting.
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