Airport obtains grant, updates master plan
At the Aug. 6 Russellville City Council meeting, another step was taken toward updating the Russellville Municipal Airport’s master plan study.
According to airport manager Harry Mattox, the master plan study is an $85,000 project. The airport received a grant for $74,598 from the Federal Aviation Administration for the project, and the council voted to authorize Mayor David Grissom to enter into an agreement with the FAA and with ALDOT for funding for the project.
“It hasn’t been updated since 1990, so, you can see why this is needed,” Mattox said.
The master plan study includes an airport layout diagram plus a timeline of further updates Mattox would like to see in the future.
“The master plan is a lot of work. It includes the dimensions, the property lines, the runway, the hangar locations and more,” Mattox said.
Some future updates Mattox is considering are rehabilitating the runway, extending the ramp, installing an automated weather observation service and updating hangars and the fueling system.
“It’s enough to keep us busy for a long time,” he said.
Mattox said ALDOT has already done a fly-over to take pictures and start the layout.
Other actions taken at the council meeting include:
- Approving the ordinance to rezone the property of Janice Trapp located at 230 LaGrange Road.
- Approving the ordinance to rezone the property of Mark Welborn at the west corner of Walnut Gate Road and Highway 24.
- Approving the ordinance to zone the property of Mark Welborn at the east corner of Walnut Gate Road and Highway 24.
- Approving the contract with InCare for the purchase of a new computer for the administration department.
- Approving the contract with for the CE&I work for TAPAA-TA16(914), the sidewalk projects on Madison Street, Lauderdale Street and Coffee Avenue.
- Declaring a vacancy for firefighter I in the Russellville Fire Department and asking the civil service board to add an additional name to the current list.
- Approving the Civil Service Board appointment of Jerry Kimbrough and reappointment of Deborah Freeman.
- Approving the authorization of an abatement of nuisance at 415 Hillcrest St.
- Approving the request from the United Way of Northwest Alabama to waive the rental fee at the A.W. Todd Centre Sept. 26.