1995-07-12-PEDC - Laserfiche WebLink

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President Cecil asked City Manager Malone to discuss the request of the City of Paris for matching funds necessary for the Texas Department of Transportation airport improvement projects at Cox Field Airport. Mr. Malone advised there was an Airport Master Plan for Cox Field by Bucher, Willis & Ratliff completed July, 1991, which covered the years of 1990 thru 2010. He said this plan was initiated and adopted by the City to determine the existing and future role of the airport and to provide information and direction in the future planning and continued development of the facility. This Master Plan was developed with input from local officials, aviation users, representatives of local business and industry, and the general public. The airport serves primarily the Lamar County area as a transport facility and is recognized as a "business service" airport by the Texas Department of Transportation. He stated that of the two projects being considered at this time totalling $630,000.00, the construction of a new terminal facility is expected to cost $400,000.00, with the cost to be shared 50/50 between the State of Texas, through the Texas Department of Transportation, and the City of Paris. The present terminal building was constructed in 1957. According to the Airport Master Plan, the terminal "lacks adequate space for many pilot and general aviation passenger functions, and the building is in only fair condition and remodeling/expansion of the building would be required, at a minimum". The Manager stated that an important part of the Cox Field Airport activity is the corporate and industrial user. Mr. Malone said executives of the industries in Paris that utilize the airport support the development of the airport and utilize it a great deal in their businesses. The Manager stated that the Aviation Facilities Development Financial Assistance Program provides assistance through loans or grants to public entities for the purpose of establishing, constructing, reconstructing or repairing airports, airstrips and aviational facilities. A number of priorities were used in developing these projects and the chief of them was safety preservation. He said that the plan that's adopted is a tentative program where they identify projects in a five year plan. Mr. Malone said this particular matter has two different projects combined in one presentation. One project is the construction of a new terminal building to replace the existing terminal building as noted in the Master Plan which was one of the options to be considered. The present terminal does not meet A.D.A. requirements. Mr. Malone stated that the state officials in charge of these programs believe that the best plan is construction of a new terminal facility. Boarctmember Bray asked if they had a report as to the development of the criteria that the terminal needed to be replaced and not repaired. City Manager Malone said he understood that the gentleman in charge of the program had been in Tennessee and his goal in Tennessee was to have a new terminal in every county of the state. The state spends a great deal of money through their Department of Commerce and to promote the idea of bringing in industry fro~ other states and desires a nice terminal facility that represents a good "front door" to a community. Mr. Malone said we know that the only reason that we have Cox Field Airport is for business and industrial purposes, and that all other purposes and activities are secondary.