Mike Forster, President of the Louisville-Winston Airport Authority, gave an update on airport projects to the Louisville Board of Aldermen, during their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 2. Forster stated that by the end of the year $5.5M will have been invested into upgrades and improvements, giving Louisville one of the most attractive airports in the entire country, for a city of its size. The Airport Authority received a $160K grant from MDOT to renovate one of the older hangars, with King Construction responsible for both Phase I & Phase II. Forster requested payment to King Construction in the amount of $28K, on their final bill, which the Board approved unanimously. Forster requested that the Board approve awarding Triplett Electric an indoor LED lighting and outdoor floodlight project for a cost of $4.9K, which was unanimously approved. Forster added that the Airport Authority had been awarded a $4.9M grant to help lengthen the runway by 150 feet, and correct some other issues with the runway. The Board voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Will Hill to accept the 100% grant. Forster reported that bids on the runway project had been opened on May 12 and recommended that the contract be awarded to Burns Dirt Construction of Columbus, MS. Work is to begin on July 1, and expected to be completed within 120. The Board unanimously approved this recommendation. Forster also requested that the Board give approval to allow him and Mayor Hill to apply for a Mississippi Development Authority loan grant anticipation, in the amount of $377K, to upgrade airport lighting. Mayor Hill also requested that the Board acknowledge a $30K CARES Act grant, and authorize him to sign the request. Both measure were approved unanimously. Hill requested that the Board accept his recommendation to promote Louisville Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Robert Hutto to the position of Fire Chief, effective June 4, upon the retirement of Fire Chief Johnny Haynes. The Board unanimously accepted the recommendation. In other action, the Board: • Voted 5-0 to approve payment to Star South Technologies in the amount of $47K for planters to be placed along Main Street. • Voted 5-0 to acknowledge minutes of a public hearing on the CDBG Louisville Utilities Lagoon project, and to adopt a resolution for matching funds. • Voted 5-0 to accept the retirement of Capt. Gerald Hayes from Louisville Police Dept. • Voted 5-0 to hire Jeffrey Yarbrough to the rank of Captain, and Devodrick Sims to the rank of Patrol Officer, with Louisville Police Dept., effective June 18. • Voted 5-0 to authorize notice of employment for a firefighter. • Landfill Project: •Voted 5-0 to acknowledge Change Order #2 for $49K to adjust quantities to current installation amounts on project with Landco for cell 5 repair. • Voted 5-0 to authorize payments to Gregory Companies LLC dba Landco Contracting for $41K for cell 5 repair • Voted 5-0 to authorize payment to Neel-Schaffer for $4.1K for Landfill/Solid Waste oncall services. The Louisville Board of Aldermen meets on the first & third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
