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?FAA approves new airport plan |
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Wednesday, 14 January 2009 00:00 |
? ? According to a copy of a letter addressed to Salem Municipal Airport Board of Aviation Commissioners (BOAC), Bill Barnett, “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in receipt of plans which were submitted for the above-mentioned study (Salem Municipal Airport). We have conducted an Aeronautical Study to determine the effect of the proposed airport layout plan on the safe and efficient utilization of navigable airspace by aircraft.
Based on our study we offer no objection from an airspace utilization standpoint . . .”
The letter, dated December 18, 2008, sets out several requirements that must be met after the construction of the facility is near completion that have to do with navigational beacons. However, according to Barnett, those are normal regulations regarding the installation of beacons at an existing facility.
In the ongoing conflict between the BOAC and the Salem Common Council (SCC), FAA approval has been a sticking point. In several meetings, members of the SCC have expressed concerns due to a lack of the approval.
With the aforementioned approval and a supposedly solid financial arrangement to lease/purchase the current airport facility for an amount in excess of the estimated $800-$900 thousand price tag for the local match to the FAA and State of Indiana planning and construction grants, the path seems clear for the SCC to throw its support behind the project.
President-elect Obama’s proposed stimulus package targets public works projects that are “shovel ready.” That means any project that has met all of the regulatory requirements and are simply waiting for funding to become available. The approval of the new Salem airport by the FAA, puts the it in that group of projects ready to begin.
The proposed federal stimulus plan calls for identifying projects that have a multi-year financing schedule and shorten the cycle. In theory, the projected five year time line for construction of the new airport facility could be shorten significantly by a increase in the amount of federal funding being offered each grant cycle. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 10:54 |
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?Commissioners award property assessment contract |
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Wednesday, 14 January 2009 00:00 |
? The Washington County Board of Commissioners met for the first time in 2009 on Wednesday, January 7; all members were present. The minutes of previous meeting, all claims and payroll were approved unanimously.
County Attorney, Tom Scifres, conducted an election of the Board President for 2009. New Commissioners David Brown and John Mishler, nominated and seconded Lana Sullivan to serve as Board President.
The Commissioners followed the recommendation of Washington County Assessor, Jason Cockerill, by awarding a contract for performing the upcoming property tax re-assessment. The contract, in the amount of $446,537, was award to Tyler Technologies of Dayton, OH. Last year, the State of Indiana eliminated the position of Township Assessor effective July 1. According to Cockerill, that action will save the county approximately $70,000 per year.
When asked when property tax billing cycles would get back to normal, Cockerill said, “We should be back on schedule by fall unless the Department of Local Government Finance changes something in the process–spring tax bills might be just a little late, though.”
In other business, the Commissioners made several appointments. One appointment of interest was that of County Service Officer. Following the County Council lead of funding one full-time position in the Veterans Affairs Office (VAO), the Commissioners appointed Pat Rice to the full time position. Recent controversy over Madge Lyles working in the VAO would seem to be put to rest by this appointment. Lyles and some of her supporters were present at the meeting and were heard by the Commissioners.
The Commissioners also appointed Rick Graves to continue as Highway Superintendent. Graves’ recommendations for several positions within his department were also approved by the Commissioners.
Mark Nantz of Knapp Miller Brown addressed the Commissioners regarding increases in the county employee contribution for family medical insurance. The employee share of the insurance premium went from $400 to $700 per month. Nantz explained the reason for the increase on that particular part of the dependent insurance but noted that the county as a whole was paying less.
Sullivan noted that even though she has not heard from any county employees regarding the increase, it is of concern to her. Brown commented that when a person’s take home pay decreases that much, it hurts.
The Commissioners authorized the purchase of a new server for the courthouse computer system. Apparently, concerns exist about the storage capacity and back up capabilities of the current server. The new service will cost $6598, the majority of which is likely to be paid out of the Recorder’s budget due to the large amount of server space that office uses in relation to the rest of the departments.
Scifres gave the Commissioners an update on land acquisition efforts associated with Bridge #113 near Fredricksburg. According to Scifres the landowner has agreed to sell the parcel of land for $2500.
With no further business to conduct, the Commissioners adjourned until their next regularly scheduled meeting on January 21. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 10:56 |
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?Paul Beckort to lead Harrison County Community Foundation Board of Directors in 2009 |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 06 January 2009 00:00 |
? The Harrison County Community Foundation Board of Directors recently elected Paul Beckort of Laconia to serve as its Board President throughout 2009. Paul has served as an HCCF Board member since March 2001. In those years he has served on the Grants Committee, Building Committee, served as Chairman of the Marketing Committee and most recently as Chairman of the Scholarship and Endowment Committee. “Paul has a lot of experience as a foundation board member, having also served as a board member of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana,” said HCCF Executive Director Steve Gilliland. “We are proud to have him as our new president,” added Gilliland.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 January 2009 10:52 |
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?Meet for Mysteries at the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 06 January 2009 00:00 |
? The New Albany-Floyd County Public Library cordially invites you to participate in their monthly mystery book discussion. Murder by the Book meets in the small meeting room of the Library on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. The selected title for the month of January is Angels & Demons by Dan Brown.
In Angels & Demons world renowned symbologist Robert Langdon uncovers a plot by an ancient and powerful secret brotherhood called the Illuminati. This brotherhood has reemerged from obscurity to bring down its most hated enemy - the Catholic Church. When a messenger of Illuminati announces that they have hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City, Robert Langdon, and a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, race to assist the Vatican in finding the bomb before it is too late. Come and join Murder by the Book to discuss the international thriller - Angels and Demons.
February’s title is a true crime tale entitled American Lighting - Terror, Mystery, the Birth of Hollywood and the Crime of the Century by Howard Blum. It is the story of how the bombing of the Los Angeles Times building in 1910 exposed a deadly “national dynamite plot” by trade unionists to terrorize America with 100 bombings in a doomed attempt to force capitalism to its knees. Read how the relentless pursuit of the criminals made a national hero of detective Billy Burns. Come to the mystery book discussion, and start the New Year off discussing mysteries. For a complete list of selections for discussion see the website or pick up a flyer at the library. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 January 2009 10:54 |
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