WORTHINGTON —
The Ashland-Boyd County Airport has received close to a half-million dollar grant to make improvements and bring the airport into compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and continue to serve private aircraft in the area.
The grant agreement approved by the Ashland Board of Commissioners on Thursday as part of the consent agenda provides $440,508 for airport development and $46,583 for land planning. It is financed by the FAA.
David Mansfield, chairman of the airport board, said the ultimate project goal is to move the taxiway at the airport 40 feet farther away from the runway. The FAA requires the taxiway to be at least 240 feet away from the center line of the runway as a safety precaution.
Without the change, the airport might eventually not be able to cater to the private jets that make up a lot of its business, Mansfield said.
“It’s just a matter of maintaining relevance,” he said.
However, the grant money will pay for only the first part of that project. It will replace old underground gas tanks and purchase some property, Mansfield said. The gas tanks have to be replaced because they are in the way of the place where the new taxiway will go.
It will probably take about three years to complete all projects necessary to move the taxiway and will cost more than $1 million, he said. Airport officials will probably be applying for more grants in March to finance the next step of the process.
Mansfield said airport improvements will be more environmentally friendly because old underground gas tanks that have been there for about 20 years will be replaced by state-of-the art above ground double tanks. The new tanks mean fuel leaks will be less likely because fuel is encased in two different tanks and it will be easier to catch any leaks that do occur because they are above instead of below ground.
City Manager Steve Corbitt said the improvements will equate to a better financial situation for the city.
“I think anything in the airport is economic development for this area,” Corbitt said.
The city legally owns the airport, so grants have to be approved by the commission. The city usually donates a few thousand dollars to it each year, he said.
“The cost to the city is pretty minimal,” Corbitt said.
KATIE BRANDENBURG can be reached at kbrandenburg@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
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