The Carroll County Airport Commission met Friday, and an informal meeting with a light agenda filled the next hour.
At the advice of consulting engineer Dan Clinton, commissioners hired a land acquisition company to help the airport expand. Clinton explained that the Federal Aviation Administration has very specific standards for airports seeking to purchase land, and the contractor can handle every step of the acquisition process. Of the two companies who responded, Clinton had worked with one of them in the past, and commissioners voted to approve his recommendation.
Clinton also explained that a project to seal all the aprons and parking lot will proceed this spring. It was planned for last fall, but the project requires an extended period with a surface temperature above 60°.
Clinton had planned to seek bids for a large gang hangar, but with construction costs soaring, he suggested the commission reconsider and use the space for private hangars. The airport recently executed ground leases on several new hangars, and does not have to invest its own funds in hangar construction. The waiting list for hangars currently has 35 applicants, and Airport Manager Michael Pfeifer said he has recently updated that list, so it is current.
In other business:
- The commission had offered a space to Danny Hendricks, who wants to operate a flight school here. They had not heard a response from him, and Hendricks is still considering other locations. Hendricks would like a hangar with an office space for the school, and the commissioners will contact another tenant to ask about exchanging one hangar lease for another.
- During public comments, Bud Phillips, a candidate for county judge, introduced himself to the commission and described some of his history and future hopes.
- In the Manager’s Report, Pfeifer noted the first investment into the commission’s reserve fund. An inventory of the airport buildings has been sent to County Judge Ronda Griffin, and a list of hangar leases and the planes housed there has been sent to County Clerk Connie Doss. He also said the terminal building will be used as an early voting and general election site. The commission had approved that use by an email vote.