CAA: GA News, "Officials approve 'wish list' for Louisiana airport projects"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Wednesday, October 16, 2002

Hammond council approves 'wish list' for airport projects 
By CHUCK REED 
The Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate 


HAMMOND -- Airport improvements totaling about $4.76 million, ranging
from resealing parking lots to a new $1.4 million runway, were among
grant applications approved by the Hammond City Council Tuesday night.

Hammond Municipal Airport Director Mert Dorgan said a dozen projects
will be included in a "wish list" of applications to the state
Department of Transportation and Development to meet an Oct. 31
deadline.

"We don't know if we'll get one of them," Dorgan said. "But with U.S.
Customs building at the airport and others expressing interest, we are
going to try. We might as well go for the whole nine yards."

The targeted funds are 90 percent from the Federal Aviation
Administration, and 10 percent from DOTD, she added.

The "whole nine yards" includes a $1.4 million total reconstruction of
Runway 31/31.

Other projects in the applications include improving drainage, resealing
and overlaying apron joints and taxiways, and the cost of developing an
airport master plan, according to resolutions passed by the council.

The council also introduced an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter
into an intergovernmental agreement with the state Department of
Agriculture and Forestry.

City officials said Agriculture Department officials have expressed
interest in the construction of a $250,000 hangar for state aircraft.

That ordinance, an amendment to the Downtown Development District
budget, and a rezoning for a trailer park will be subjects at a public
hearing Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m, the council voted.

In other airport business, the council:

   . Approved a resolution for the mayor to execute an agreement with
DOTD, that will provide $9,400 for an airport lighting control system,
which the city will maintain after a one-year warranty expires.

   . Gave final approval for spending $5,032 for a truck transmission,
mower and photocopy machine.

In other business, the council approved bids including:

   . $67,850 from Wainwright Construction for sidewalks for the 200
blocks of East and West Thomas St.

Because of the Nov. 5 election, the next council meeting was rescheduled
for Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.

Prior to that meeting, a public hearing on rezoning a pasture for a
trailer park on Washington Drive in Lincoln Park will be held,
councilmen said.


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

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