Glasgow Daily Times, Glasgow, KY

Local News

Discussion

February 22, 2007

Fiscal court gives nod to airport

By MELANIE THOMAS

GLASGOW — The Barren County Fiscal Court voted Wednesday night to support the revival of the Elizabethtown Regional Airport.

The airport, which closed in the mid-1980s, is marketing itself to several surrounding counties as an easier and cheaper way for air travel.

The airport will offer free parking, jet service and competitive airfare rates, said economic developer Luke B. Schmidt, who represents development for the airport. Shorter check-in lines and security checkpoints are also added incentives, he said.

“When you look at the numbers, as many as 350,000 people could board planes at Elizabethtown,” Schmidt said. “The airport will be- come the region’s low-cost airport for travelers.”

Schmidt will be asking the Glasgow City Council at its Monday meeting for the same support.

“The surrounding counties will be better connected to the global economy and will serve the counties with a great economic development tool,” Schmidt said.

The landing strip, at 100 feet wide and 6,000 feet long, is capable of supporting regional jets and large aircraft, Schmidt said.

The only thing missing is a passenger terminal which the airport board is prepared to build once the airport has commitment from an airline for service, he said.

The airport closed in the mid-1980s because of rapid growth the airport couldn’t handle for the market size and there was no landing system during inclimate weather, Schmidt said. Those issues are resolved now because of growth in central and southcentral Kentucky, he said.

The time change isn’t going to pose a major problem, Schmidt said. Customers will be drawn to the airport by lower airfares, free parking and short distance from Barren County.

Elizabethtown sits roughly 53 miles away from Glasgow, whereas Louisville and Nashville are roughly 95 and 93 miles away, respectively.

In other business, the Court heard information on bond refinance from Sam Day Dickinson and Hilliard Lyons, representatives from the Administrative Office of the Courts, which could result in more than $25,000 for the county. The Court decided to wait on the project.

The Emergency Manage-ment Agency will also be lending the Park City Fire Department a rescue truck to replace the rescue truck that was damaged last weekend in an I-65 accident. The Park City rescue truck will most likely be out of service for 60 or more days.

Text Only
Local News
AP Video
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is... Raw Video: Deadly Helicopter Crash in Australia Raw Video: Smoke, Purported Gunfire in Syria Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes NJ Museum Finds 19th Century Recording Snow Causes Disruptions in Much of Europe Clinton: Vetoed U.N. Syria Resolution 'travesty' Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses Gingrich Renews Vow to Campaign Until Convention Romney Rolls to Easy Win in Nevada GOP Caucuses Raw Video: Missing Family Found Alive in Ore. Police Clear Tents From Occupy Site in DC
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Seasonal Content
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Facebook