The Baxter County Airport Advisory Board met for the first time Tuesday morning since being organized in February. New board members include Bob Harris, Kevin Linck, Mark Bertel, James Strecker, and Kevin Crawford.
Once the meeting was called to order by Baxter County Judge Kevin Litty, the board elected its officers. Kevin Crawford was named chairman, Mark Bertel vice-chairman, and Bob Harris secretary.
Crawford began by stating the board plans to keep meetings informal, with a focus on supporting and improving the airport. Consultant Joey Wallace with Grimes Engineering provided updates on current projects and the airport’s capital improvement plan.
Ongoing projects include an 80-by-60-foot hangar, a six-bay box hangar, and the replacement of Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI), which are nearly 20 years old. Wallace also discussed upcoming flight inspections. He noted the hangar is funded through an Arkansas Department of Aeronautics grant, while the other projects are backed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants. The FAA covers 90% of the costs, with the state paying the remaining 10%.
Future projects under consideration include repairing the taxiway and fixing lighting connected to power lines. The board noted that the taxiway has extensive cracks and damage. Repairs could be funded by an FAA grant application in July.
Airport Manager Taylor Carmichael presented a request for proposal (RFP) to the board. The airport has been approached by a company seeking to establish an A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) shop on-site. The company, also a Garmin dealer, is interested in leasing but does not want to build its own hangar. The board discussed applying for a grant to construct a county-owned hangar, which could generate jobs and additional sales tax revenue.
Carmichael also highlighted the need for additional fencing and runway cleaning equipment. He will research pricing and present it at a future meeting. He also proposed scheduling Gregg Farm Services to reseed the airport’s grass strip this spring. The project, costing $1,350, will include fertilizer, 50 pounds of Bermuda seed, and application. Last year, the grass strip saw just over 500 operations.
In other business, the board created committees focused on emergency preparedness, events, and business development.
Before the meeting adjourned, Gerald Gaige of the Leading Edge Aviation Foundation proposed co-sponsoring a fun run at the airport. The event would feature a 5K run/walk on the airport’s runway, aiming to engage the community and promote aviation. While board members recognized the potential benefits, they raised concerns about closing the runway for a few hours on a Saturday morning. Gaige said he had prepared the necessary paperwork for FAA approval and highlighted the potential to attract pilots and introduce the public to the aviation community. Profits from the event, after expenses, would benefit the Leading Edge Aviation Foundation scholarship fund. The board approved submitting the application, pending confirmation of liability insurance coverage.
The meeting lasted an hour and a half.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI