Airport sells land for highway widening project

story by Marla Cantrell
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At Tuesday’s (June 22) meeting, the Fort Smith Airport Commission approved an agreement to sell a little more than two acres to the Arkansas Highway Department for $257,400. The land is at the west end of the airport and will become part of the Arkansas 255 widening project.

John Parker, airport director, said the fair market amount was determined after the AHTD’s appraisal came in at $224,100 and the airport’s estimate was $290,634. The airport will retain easements, mineral rights and will ensure FAA air space requirements are in place.

Parker said the widening project, which will modify the road from Zero Street to the intersection at Phoenix Avenue and Old Greenwood Road, was redesigned because the original plan called for more airport land and would have required the airport to remove one of its navigational lights.

The commission also approved an agreement with Morrison Shipley Engineering for the design of new L.E.D. lighting for the primary runway. The agreement, for approximately $87,000, allows the engineers to hire subcontractor Aviation Alliance. The engineering, survey, design and bidding phase must be complete before the airport can be considered for a $400,000 FAA grant. The airport would be required to pay the additional estimated $21,000.

Parker said he is confident the grant will come through; however, the engineering cost could be recovered from the FAA if the funding did not materialize.

Another grant, this one for $500,000, was approved by the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission. The money will be used to reconstruct and realign the west corporate taxiway. The grant covers 90% of the projected $555,500 cost.

Commissioners also awarded a $64,540 contract to Loon Acres to complete an FAA wildlife hazard assessment. The company beat out five other bidders. The year-long study was ordered after a ‘triggering event’ at the airport, although Parker said he did not know exactly what that was.  At last month’s meeting, one of the contractors bidding on the project, said the requirement was somewhat of a reaction to the bird strike that landed a U.S. Airways jet in the Hudson River in January of last year.

Beginning July 1, new commission officers will take over. Jan Nordin was elected to replace Scott Archer as chairman; Rick Deramus retained his vice-chairmanship; and Ryan Carter will take Nordin’s former position as treasurer.

The next commission meeting will be held on July 27 at 5:30 p.m.