Tue, Aug 28, 2012
Body Had A History Of Quick Approval Of FAA Monies
The Tupelo, MS, City Council last week decided not to accept a $1.85 million AIP grant from the FAA, saying the request for a local match came without warning and that it would mostly benefit a local company leasing property at Tupelo Regional Airport.
The Council was being asked to come up with $48,000, a little more than 2.5 percent, to match the federal grant. The vote was 5-2 against the bill.
Money from the grant would have provided security improvements, an expansion of a concrete apron, repairs to a taxiway, and work on an air conditioning system. Airport Executive Director Josh Abramson planned to combine the AIP grant with others either applied for or already received from local, state, and federal sources.
According to a report appearing on the northeast Mississippi news site djournal.com, those casing "no" votes in the council said that they needed more time to look at the proposed improvements at the airport, and how they might benefit Universal Asset Management, which leases property from the airport. Abramson said the property being leased by the company had been damaged by its previous owner, the Mississippi National Guard, and was in need of repairs. UAM needs the apron and taxiway repairs to be able to park aircraft on the property it leases from the airport.
Abramson said that the short turnaround time was due to an FAA requirement to use actual bids rather than estimates in the grant process. Bids were accepted over the summer, and the application was made July 30th. FAA approval came 11 days later, leaving just 10 days for the council to approve or deny the match before the grant expired.
The Tupelo City Council has reportedly routinely passed airport grants under tight deadlines in the past, but said this particular grant seemed to benefit a single private entity at the airport. Negotiations are ongoing.
More News
Runway Lead-in Light System Runway Lead-in Light System Consists of one or more series of flashing lights installed at or near ground level that provides positive visual guidance a>[...]
Aero Linx: Aviation Without Borders Aviation Without Borders uses its aviation expertise, contacts and partnerships to enable support for children and their families – at hom>[...]
Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]
From 2010 (YouTube Version): Yeah.... This IS A Really Cool Job When ANN's Nathan Cremisino took over the lead of our Aero-TV teams, he knew he was in for some extra work and a lot>[...]
Also: Junkers A50 Heritage, Montaer Grows, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Vans' Latest Officially, the Carbon Cub UL and Rotax 916 iS is now in its 'market survey development phase'>[...]