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Choctaw County approves airport federal-aid agreement; airport staff report inspection items
Summary
The Choctaw County Commission on June 10 approved an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to participate in the Alabama Uniform Certification Program, preserving eligibility for federal airport funds, and heard that airport inspection items remain open, including striping and a helicopter landing zone.
The Choctaw County Commission on June 10 approved an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to participate in the Alabama Uniform Certification Program, a step the county’s attorney said is required to preserve eligibility for federal airport funds. Commissioners also heard a staff update on outstanding items from a recent airport inspection, including striping and a designated medical helicopter landing area.
County Attorney Lee told the commissioners the certification agreement is tied to federal funding requirements and a disadvantaged-business plan prepared by the state Department of Transportation. “You want the money. We’ve got to have this agreement signed,” Lee said.
An airport representative told commissioners trees identified in the inspection have been removed but the only remaining open item was striping. “The only thing that’s left outstanding is the striping. I did have that quote. I think I’ve submitted it to the judge,” the airport speaker said, adding the striping quote was “like, dollars 35,000.” The speaker also described a small apron area to be prepared as a landing zone for medical helicopters because of concerns that cracks and loose asphalt could create debris when rotor wash arrives.
The speaker said the airport is under a temporary notice that expires July 31; the commission was told the county can extend that deadline but must decide how to address the outstanding items. The commission voted to approve the Alabama Uniform Certification Program agreement and to authorize the airport manager to sign the agreement on the county’s behalf. Commissioner Dahlgren moved to approve the agreement; Commissioner Cherry seconded the motion, and commissioners voted in favor.
County staff said they will forward the signed agreement to the appropriate state office and provide copies to county records. The county attorney noted that while immediate prospects for a federal airport grant were uncertain, the agreement is a required administrative step if the county later seeks federal funds.
The commission did not set a funding source for the striping in the meeting record; the speaker said only that money was “an issue” and that the striping quote had been submitted for review.
The commission moved on to other agenda items after approving the agreement.
