The Calvert City Council voted Monday to form an airport board as they look to revitalize the resource.
Calvert City is moving forward with plans to turn Kentucky Dam Village State Park Airport into a resource for residents.
On Monday, council members discussed steps necessary to secure federal funding, including having 10 pilots transfer their aircraft registration — also known as tail numbers — to the airport. The first reading of an ordinance establishing the Calvert City Airport Board was approved during the council’s regular meeting.
Tim Haskill, who has been advising the city as plans develop, said the board as suggested met his recommendation.
“[The city] will be managing the facility and not owning the facility,” Haskill said. “Therefore, in my personal opinion, it’s more appropriate to have an advisory board… so that you have direct control over the decisions in that process. The state is fully ready to support that.”
The board will provide insight to the council, which will make final decisions.
City Attorney Greg Northcutt said the board will operate similarly to the city’s park board, with the city maintaining control and not turning over operations to a separate governmental entity.
“This ordinance is drafted in the same spirit as the parks board and the cemetery board,” Northcutt said. “All the decision-making burden is on [the council].”
Mayor Lynn Jones advocated for formation of the the board.
“What I really like is, [this] gives the council the driving initiative to make that airport everything it can be and not get bogged down in a bunch of bureaucracy and getting sideways with a board,” Jones said. “This way, you know exactly what you’re going to have…. I think we have to rely on experts.”
Forming the board, securing fuel for airplanes and meeting other regulations could help the city secure up to $150,000 annually in Federal Aviation Administration funding, according to previous Marshall County Daily reports. Those funds could cover operational expenses and be used as the city looks to build hangers, erect fencing and make other improvements. City Administrator John Ward said the city will likely look to contract labor to provide some of the airport maintenance.
“I feel like contract is the way to go with that,” Ward said.