CAA: GA News, "Guthrie, Oklahoma airport generating jobs"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Saturday, August 10, 2002

Guthrie airport generating jobs
By Kenna Griffin
The Oklahoman


GUTHRIE -- The city's airfield is growing up and becoming a regional
airport that will support jet traffic. 
Officials say the improved airport will bring jobs and economic
development to the city. 

Since the project began in 2000, the airport doubled in size and 18 new
jobs have been created, said Glenn Hayes, public works director. 

Improvements to the airport include an environmental assessment, runway
upgrade to meet safety standards, taxiway extension and water and sewer
line extension. Six buildings also are part of the project, including a
new main terminal now under construction. 

Changes still planned include a 900- foot runway extension, rerouting of
Industrial Road around the runway's end and fencing around the site. 

Hayes said the airport project will cost about $10 million, with the
majority of the money coming from grants. 

The city will match the grants with 10 percent or $1 million in money or
in- kind labor, Hayes said. He said city officials are finding "creative
ways" to pay the $1 million. 

"We have not gone to the voters for any increase in tax dollars," he
said. "One thing we had to do was tighten our budget belt to help fund
the projects that were out at the airport." 

City officials are working with a consultant to design controlled growth
near the airport. 

The airport planner will meet with officials Thursday to discuss future
development and uses at and around the airport, Hayes said. 

Officials paid $20,000 from the city's professional services budget for
the study, which began about three months ago, Hayes said. He said
officials should have final plans for the airport by the end of
September. 

"It will state all the rules and regulations that we need to have in
place to make sure we have everything at the airport in a professional
manner," he said.


   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID2

*****************************************