Hartselle seeks grant to study airport runway extension
The City of Hartselle is applying for a $25,000 grant to study the feasibility and justification of extending the Hartselle-Morgan County Regional Airport runway by 400 feet.
Department of Development director Jeff Johnson said this was the last major project on the airport’s 20-year plan.
“The city has not committed to doing this project at this time,” Johnson said. “We are doing this study so that city officials and nearby residents will know what the positives and negatives are.”
According to the airport’s 20-year plan, the 400-foot extension would give the airport a 4,000-foot runway. However, Johnson said the city would have to acquire additional airspace easements or land purchases to allow for a new glide path for the longer runway.
That is part of the reason for the study.
“We will include and welcome public input during the study,” Johnson said.
If approved, the city would be responsible for $1,250 coming for the feasibility and justification study.
In addition to that, the city is also applying for $330,000 for a wetlands mitigation project. Johnson said this would help finish security fencing on the south end of the property where there is a depressed area where flooding occurs.
Johnson said both projects applications are for the 2014 airport grant program and would not receiving funding in the current fiscal year.
In other business, the council:
• approved applying for a new fire engine through the 2013 Asssistance for Firefighters grant program.
• adopted the safe workplace guidelines that could lead to savings on its worker’s compensation insurance.
• approved the following safety award winners for the fourth quarter: Patrick Griffith, Wesley Massey, John Norwood, Sherry Reagin and Mark Edmundson.