Friday, Dec. 10, 2004

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By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The Peachtree City Airport Authority is offering $10,000 towards the redesign of TDK Boulevard so the new road can loop around Falcon Field’s runway safety area instead of going through it.

At its meeting Wednesday night, the authority approved an intergovernmental agreement that must be signed by Peachtree City officials within 60 days. But the offer wasn’t a slam dunk from the get-go, as authority member Matt Davis questioned why the airport should spend money when it could go towards other airport projects.

“I don’t see it as our problem,” Davis said, adding that he didn’t want any of the parties involved to come back to the airport for more money.

Authority member Jerry Cobb noted that the current road alignment, designed to provide another avenue between Peachtree City and Coweta County, could prevent the airport from extending its runway if needed in the near future.

“My thought was we’d try to get this thing off of dead center ... and get it moving,” Cobb said.

“It will help the airport,” said authority chairwoman Cathy Nelmes, noting that there are no regulations that keep the city from running the road through the runway safety area, which extends beyond the airport’s property on land it doesn’t own and doesn’t have easements for.

The authority expects it could be reimbursed for the expense by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Even if the Peachtree City Council accepts the $10,000 from the airport authority, it’s still unclear whether the city will spend the estimated $32,800 to finish the design of the road. Several council members have opposed spending any more money on the project, as this would be the third different design for the road.

When the authority approved offering $10,000 in the intergovernmental agreement, Davis was the sole vote against it.

In other business, the authority approved spending $60,000 to study the airport’s NAVAIDS system. Although the contract gives a 180-day time frame, Prime Engineering has agreed to provide the information on the instrument landing system in late January so the authority can proceed seeking grants for it.

Airport Manager John Crosby said it will be important to meet with the local congressional delegation to try and secure the necessary funding.

Also, Nelmes announced that she is resigning her seat on the authority at the end of January. She has served six years on the authority but wants to leave for “family obligations,” she said.

Fisher thanked her for her service.

Nelmes’ seat will be filled by the Peachtree City Council at a later date.