Nicky Boyette – Chase Tressler, chair of the Carroll County Airport Commission, announced last Friday he would again stage a Touch-a-Truck/Plane event during the Friday, May 20 fly-in at CCA. Last year’s event drew a sizable crowd to get up close to a backhoe, bucket truck, dump truck, water truck, sheriff’s patrol car, an ambulance and a large tractor. He hopes he can get a helicopter to fly in along with the usual small aircraft. There are photos and a video of last year’s event on the CCA Facebook page.
Tressler said food will be available and he hopes to have a bounce house for the kids.
Airport projects
Engineer Dan Clinton has arranged for the runway repair in June, a traditionally slower time for CCA. The runway will be resurfaced for better rainwater runoff, and French drains will be installed along each side. The work might take two weeks.
Airport manager Michael Pfeifer told commissioners that wiring between the building and the card reader for the fuel delivery system is substandard and exposed to moisture. Repair will require excavating a ditch and properly protecting new wiring.
Commissioner Morris Pate commented the fuel system ought to be fixed right away, and moved to have Pfeifer get bids so there could be a vote at the next meeting.
Tressler said the fuel system would have to be shut down during repair, and suggested they make the repair during same the period in June since there would be no traffic.
Road work
Clinton again addressed repair of County Road 3084, which runs onto airport property to a hangar leased by Larkin Floyd for his business, Tri-State Airmotive. Clinton said large trucks have difficulty getting to this area of airport property via the narrow road, so instead they use the taxiway. Clinton has a plan for how to repair the road, and said he could get the Federal Aviation Administration to help pay for it. He insisted there needs to be a solution because ground transportation on airport properties is a big deal to the FAA.
Pate questioned whether CCA could get the road repaired because it is a county road. He suggested they get an opinion from the county’s attorney, and Clinton insisted the county could designate the road as airport property. He urged commissioners to approach the Quorum Court before next year’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Clinton agreed to draft a letter for Tressler to send to the county’s attorney. Floyd said he would speak to nearby residents to get support for the plan.
Final items and maybe a food truck
- Tressler mentioned CCA needed a utility vehicle, and proposed the commission authorize up to $4000 for the purchase of a 4-wheeler utility vehicle to use for weed abatement spraying and other maintenance uses on the grounds. He said it could even tow a plane if it needed to. Vote to authorize the purchase was unanimous.
- Tressler stated he has seen airports with play areas for kids, and wondered if CCA should set up a playground area beside the terminal. Interested citizens at the meeting suggested grant possibilities and commissioners acknowledged there would be liability insurance to consider, but they voted to have Tressler follow up and report back at the next meeting.
- Pate suggested CCA should pursue having a burger bar in the terminal as a way to attract attention. Commissioner Sandy Martin replied having a food truck operate in the parking lot would be easier and would promote a local business.
Next meeting will be Friday, May 20, at 12 p.m.