Runway project moving again

The president of the Portland Aviation Board said progress is being made in the ongoing quest to get a grant for runway extensions at the city's airport.

Board president Glynn Barber said Wednesday afternoon that the board has obtained a sufficient amount of justification letters to obtain a Federal Aviation Administration grant for the project.

The aviation board is seeking the funding to extend the runways to gain enough length for small jets, but the FAA is requiring a justification of at least 250 takeoffs and landings from the airport before forking over money.

"We have basically all the letters we need for the FAA grant," Barber said and added later, "There's no reason we shouldn't be able to go forward with the grant."

Barber said the board is also ready to make proposals to purchase the additional land needed for the project from two nearby property owners.

Those owners, Justin Shaffer and Charles "Chuck" Shreeve, have previously rejected offers to purchase the land.

The runway extension project has been in the works for more than 5 years, but the board has not be able to acquire the money for the project.

Barber informed the board that an major opportunity may be on the horizon at the Aviation Association of Indiana meeting coming up in October.

"We have an hour in front of the FAA officials," he said, encouraging other board members and Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier, who was at Wednesday's meeting, to attend the AAI meeting.

In other business Wednesday, the aviation board:

•Was informed by Barber that maintenance at the airport is moving along smoothly.

The board toured the airport following Wednesday's meeting to check on the progress of the repairs.

•Were questioned by board member Bob Sours about the status of a contract with Dave Miller and Miller Aviation, which oversees operations at the airport.

Hosier said the city attorney has nearly completed work on that contract.[[In-content Ad]]