MT. VERNON —
Mt. Vernon Outland Airport will be receiving $1.2 million in grant funds to help meet federal requirements for perimeter fencing around the airport property.
“We maintain the air carrier certification at the airport,” Airport Manager Chris Collins explained. “What that does for the airport is show our tenants and future tenants and customers we are a safe and secure sight. That’s one thing that sets us apart from other airports. The Airport Board and the state believe it’s important for our future growth to maintain our certification. ... Federal mandates for the certification are that we have a 10 foot fence around the entire perimeter. We have a six foot fence. The six foot fence was put up in 1992, and that was the mandate at that time. But, those things change at airports, and this is one of those mandates that changed.”
Collins said the new fencing had been budgeted in the airport capital improvement budget, Momentum 2013, at $30,000 local share to be completed after the runway safety area project now underway is completed in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
“The fencing appeared on the radar screen and became a red flag item to the FAA in December,” Collins said. “The FAA moved the fence project forward, and it was the intent of the FAA to seek discretionary funding for the fence.”
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Thursday afternoon the Illinois Department of Transportation received federal grant funds totaling $9.3 million for airport projects — of which $2.61 million was allocated to the Decatur Airport and Mt. Vernon Airport for the fence projects.
“We don’t have a participation agreement on the project yet, so I don’t have the exact amount we will be getting,” Collins said. “We do know the project was awarded on the IDOT June letting cycle to the low bidder of Collins & Hermann Inc. for $1.03 million for construction. That does not include design engineering or engineering. ... My estimate in the total cost of construction will be $1.247 million, and our 2 1/2 percent local share portion is $31,197,” Collins said.
Collins said he expected to receive the participation agreement at any time from IDOT.
Local
July 12, 2010
Airport to receive funds for fencing
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