Commissioners to make decision on Airport Authority seat
The Fayette County commissioners are poised to make numerous board appointments at their monthly meeting on Thursday, including a decision on a seat on the Fayette County Airport Authority currently held by Fred Davis. Davis, the chairman of the airport authority, has expressed an interest in serving another five-year term. He said Friday that he interviewed for the position, but the interview only lasted four out of the allotted 15 minutes. Five years ago, Davis received support for reappointment from former Fayette County Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh as well as current Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites.
Vicites, Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink and Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III will vote on the appointment this time around.
Davis said during his time on the authority, numerous projects have occurred at the Connellsville Airport, including vault rehabilitation, storm water improvements, a new sewage system design, rehabilitation of the access road and main hangar apron, design of a new potable water system and the purchase of snow removal equipment.
Other larger projects, which have meant more than more than $8.5 million in investment to the airport, have also occurred, including construction of a new terminal building and preparations for a runway extension. Davis has served on the board for 11 years, most of which time he has served as chairman.
Davis said the most recent past has included infrastructure improvements of sewage, water and the terminal building, as well as finalizing the Duke pipeline relocation to facilitate the further development of the runway. “Once the pipeline is relocated, there will be no further impediments to the evolution of the runway length,” Davis said.
Davis said earthwork for the runway extension should start in the spring or summer of 2007, pending funding approvals. Also, construction of a potable water system and construction of a new sewage system should begin soon, he said.
According to Zimmerlink, in addition to the airport authority position, the commissioners will make appointments to the Agricultural Land Preservation Board, Conservation District, Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board, North Fayette Municipal Authority, Fayette County Planning Commission, Regional Trail Commission, Fayette County Transportation Executive, UCC Appeals Board, Workforce Investment Board, EMS Board and Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board.