The Brewton City Council approved a $16,000 feasibility study Monday that could result in the expansion of the city’s municipal airport.
The 58-acre parcel abuts the airport property and is “the only flat piece that could be developed should we have economic expansion at the airport,” said airport manager Earl Lambert.
Currently the airport property is landlocked, he said. The parcel is owned by the T.R. Miller Mill Company and listed with Cedar Creek Land and Timber.
“But before we buy it, we need to figure out if it’s a good purchase,” Lambert said. “That’s why we need the study.”
If acquired, the property would allow for the construction of a new hangar and taxiway.
“And those projects would be eligible for (Federal Aviation Administration) grant money,” Lambert said.
“We don’t have a need for the property today, but it’s kind of like the egg and the chicken,” he said. “We can’t promote the property to the aviation industry unless we buy the property. We can’t buy the property unless we survey it.”
Councilman Pat Poole voted against the measure; however, the other councilmembers agreed.
During the meeting, the council granted approval to host the following events:
• the annual fair hosted by T.R. Miller Quarterback Club to host its annual fair April 14-18. The council also agreed to waive the usual business license fee;
• the Trustmark Bank Relay for Life team’s “Bark for Life” on March 7 at Jennings Park and the D.W. McMillan Hospital’s Relay for Life team walk/5K run on April 11.
In other business, the council:
• assessed a $1,200 lien on the Murphy Street property of Margaret Moore for cleanup costs;
• awarded a $1.3 million bid to R&B Contracting in Andalusia for the Alexander Heights sewer project; and,
• approved a resolution authorizing paperwork for the $50,000 Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs land grant at the E.O. Wilson Adventures Park.