By Dan Shaw, Evansville Courier
& Press
Officials at the Evansville Regional Airport have compiled a list of ways
they may use any stimulus money the government puts at their disposal.
President-elect Barack Obama has proposed a bill that would give state and
local governments more dollars for infrastructure projects. The Federal Aviation
Administration recently asked the Evansville airport officials what uses they
see for such assistance.
In response, the airport compiled a list of projects it would undertake in
its fiscal years 2009 and 2010 if given stimulus money. Gene Olson, assistant
airport manager, said the FAA hasn't revealed how much money it would allot to
the Evansville airport.
"I'd very happy if one or two of the items got funded," he said.
The size of the entire stimulus bill is unsettled as well. U.S. governors
have said there are about $136 billion worth of infrastructure projects that
could be paid for that way, according to The Associated Press. The hope is that
by spending the money on infrastructure, the stimulus will directly benefit
workers and bolster employment.
Here are the projects the Evansville airport submitted in its list for fiscal
year 2009:
A leveling of a 1,000-foot-long safety zone at the northeast end of one of
the airport's runways. The land must be made flatter to comply with FAA
standards, Olson said. The work will cost about $750,000.
A snowblower that can be mounted on a vehicle. According to the FAA, an
airport should be able to clean off its primary runway and associated taxiways
within 30 minutes. Having the new snowblower would help the Evansville airport
meet that standard.
Olson said the FAA has set a tight deadline to secure the money. To meet it,
airports must have obtained environmental approvals, designed the projects and
accepted bids on the projects by April.
Because of the small amount of time, the airport is trying to advance
projects at first scheduled to take place at a later date rather than adopt new
ones, he said. For fiscal year 2010, some of the possible uses of stimulus money
are:
A reconstruction of the airport's west parking apron, estimated to cost $6
million.
A road leading to the airport's corporate hangers, estimated to cost
$275,000.
A taxi way that would run parallel to the airport's runway for small
airplanes, which would cost about $1.25 million.
In other business, the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority Board agreed
to negotiate a contract for the management of the Hamilton Golf Course, which
lies west of U.S. 41. Earlier this week, airport officials invterviewed
companies which said they want to manage the course.
Of those, they liked H.G. Golf Properties, a company based in Danville, Ind.,
the best. The company proposed signing a 5-year contract with the airport,
according to Bob Working, airport manager. Either party could break the
agreement after giving a notice of 30 days.
For managing the golf course, the airport would pay H.G. Golf Properties at
least $50,000 a year. The board plans to consider the matter again when it meets
in January.