Although funding for airport construction projects in Kentucky still is not available, the Clinton-Cumberland County Airport Board has basically vowed to press onward with plans for a joint project in hopes that funding at state and federal levels may eventually become available.

The airport board met at the courthouse in Albany last Thursday evening. It was their first session in several months in which enough members (seven) were on hand to constitute a quorum and conduct official business.

Also present for the approximate one-hour session was Aaron Braswell of ENTRAN Engineers and Clinton and Cumberland County Judge/Executives Lyle Huff and John Phelps, respectively.

The board has gone through a period without meeting to conduct business for the past few months, due primarily to the lack of funding sources for airport construction projects in the state and nation as a whole due to the down economy.

The joint board, however, is not giving up hope that in the future, funding from some source or sources will become available, allowing them to actually be able to put a price tag on proposed property sites when it gets to the point to purchase land options.

In business that was conducted and voted on, Junior Carey gave the treasurer’s report, noting there was only $124.95 left in the airport board’s personal account. He also informed the board that although they would need to file for tax exempt status, which they do not have, they had filed their taxes for the tax years of 2008 and 2009, with the 2010 year having to be filed soon.

Board chairman Greg Smith also informed the board of the original $208,000 grant received in years past for engineering studies, which included the site selection process to name a few, was down to $26,575. On a motion by board member Frank Brendel, Jr., they voted unanimously to pay the last invoice to ENTRAN for their engineering work in the amount of $11,549. This brings the balance left of the grant money to around $15,000.

Smith also informed the board that since its last meeting, a couple of surveyors had been contacted about doing property surveys on the site area at New Hope. However, each declined to attempt to complete the work due to conflicts of interest.

Smith noted the need to notify and discuss the airport project with each property owner involved prior to an actual survey of the site area taking place.

The board had a listing of property owners involved in one way or another with the site location.

Board member Jamie Sparks said that of the several listed, land needed for the airport itself touched only a few of the persons listed.

Sparks volunteered to spear-head the visitation to property owners that would be affected by the construction of an airport.

“Although we don’t have the money right now, the project isn’t dead,” Sparks noted. “We are still in better shape now than we ever have been.” He was referring to the site location itself and the willingness of most property owners that would be effected to negotiate with the airport board on the project.

In discussion of the need for a small amount of money just for the airport board to operate on through the future steps, Carey indicated that all four local entities–the two cities and two county governments–should be asked to donate a small amount. He also indicated the importance of the backing of the city councils and fiscal courts of each entity if the airport project is going to succeed.

Chairman Smith, who has apparently been in contact with Division of Aeronautics officials, said there was only one airport project in the state at the current time that was being aided by the state, that being in Gallatin County in northern Kentucky. He added the only state funding for airport projects is for maintenance and safety at existing airports.

Both judge/executives also volunteered to put in verbal and written requests to lawmakers and other agencies to seek support for the project and try and help in the quest to find future funding sources of major proportions. Such funding is needed for future site studies, land acquisition and eventual construction of an airport.