By Carl Burnett Jr.
LANCASTER –The Fairfield County Airport is going to have more than $60,000 worth of maintenance work done this fall.
The Fairfield County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a commencement notice for Decker Construction Co., of Columbus, to do rehabilitation work on the southeast apron of the runway. The contract was for $39,574.25.
“It’s part of annual grant the airport gets from the FAA,” said county Commissioner Mike Kiger.
The U.S. Department of Transportation funds, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration, will be used to do the work. The FAA provides 90 percent of the cost of the work with the Fairfield County Airport Authority picking up 10 percent.
Greg Heaton, aviation group manager with CMT Inc., said the project will include milling the area around the maintenance hanger near the airport terminal.
“They are going to mill the surface off and then resurface the area,” Heaton said. “It should start within the next two weeks and take only a week or two to complete.”
Heaton said there should only be minimal disruptions of the airport around the paving area and that the runway will remain open during the paving work.
Heaton also said that the airport will also have its runway lines and arrows repainted in October.
“That contract is going to A & A Safety, out of Amelia, who bid $29,618 for the job,” Heaton said.
The runway will be shut down for a day or two while the painting is being done.
“This is needed because the lines are faded in areas almost to the point where it is hard for pilots to see as they come in,” Heaton said.
Heaton said all the work should be done by the end of October.