Money for Kennett Airport improvements

New 5,000-foot runway

Business Today

KENNETT -- An expansion project at Kennett Municipal Airport has been given a financial boost with the recent awarding of three grants totaling $2.45 million.

The city has been awarded a $1.5 million federal discretionary grant, an $800,000 state grant and a $150,000 federal entitlement grant, according to Johnny Dalton, chairman of the Kennett Airport Board.

The project at the airport is part of a local, state and federal partnership. The work will be done in several phases, culminating in a new 75-by-5,000-foot runway.

Dalton said that during fiscal year 2002, land clearing, earthwork, drainage and fencing will be done.

Most of the project is expected to be finished in fiscal 2003. Work will include removal of existing pavements, paving the runway, paving end turn-arounds and the taxiway connecting the new runway with the existing terminal area, and installation of lighting.

Also in that fiscal year, the project calls for finishing a parallel taxiway and installing a connecting taxiway.

Construction of a new apron, T-hangar, taxi lanes, a new entrance road and terminal parking are also scheduled to be done in fiscal 2003.

Dalton said $4,126,926 has been requested for the expansion project in fiscal 2003, the lion's share of which -- $3,714,233 -- would be from federal funds.

The city's share of the project cost comes from an allocation of $35,000 sales tax money set aside for three years, as well as proceeds from the sale of aviation fuel at the airport.