Connellsville airport continues moving forward with runway extension
The Fayette County Airport Authority is moving forward with the environmental assessment for the planned runway extension for the Connellsville Airport. During Tuesday’s monthly meeting, the authority voted to approve two contracts with McCormick, Taylor & Associates, Inc. Phase I of the project will cost $200,000 and the final phase is not to exceed $288,000.
According to operations manager, Sam Cortis, the assessment will investigate the extent of impact of the extension on noise levels, runoff, endangered species and other aspects of the project. The firm will investigate three options, including expansion in one direction, no expansion and expansion part north and part south.
The assessment will take a year. The county is responsible for 5 percent of the cost, with 90 percent being covered by the Federal Aviation Administration and the remaining 5 percent by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation.
Two representatives of Airport Developers LLC attended the meeting to seek a cooperative effort with the authority regarding a sewerage project.
The company recently acquired property at the intersection of Route 119 and 80 Acres Road near the airport and plans to develop it. The developers plan to construct a sewage treatment plant and want the authority to share in the cost, Cortis said.
The authority decided to hold off on making a decision regarding the plant until more information is obtained. Cortis said Widmer Engineering officials have said that an area wide sewage system could take up to five years to complete.
In other items, the authority voted to approve a motion to proceed with Benatec Associates for design of the relocation of the runway 32 threshold.
The authority voted to rescind a motion to seek two additional board members, which would have expanded the number of board members from 5 to 7. Cortis said the authority is still trying to acquire money for an airport manager.
Regarding the FBO (Fixed Base of Operations) at the airport, Cortis reported that the remodeling work has been completed. The renovations included improvements in the restrooms. Funding for the project came from donations by Robert E. Eberly and Joe Hardy. Cortis said he was directed to send letters to the men thanking them for the donations and notifying them that the work is complete.