By DAVID A. MANN
David.Mann@newsandtribune.com
SELLERSBURG —
Bids on the relocation of Bean Road, related to runway expansion at the Clark County Regional Airport, are expected to be let within the next month.
Engineer Mike Harris, with the firm Jacobi, Toombs & Lanz, updated members of the Clark County Board of Aviation Commissioners on the proposed project during a Wednesday meeting.
According to Harris, regulators — including the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management — have reviewed plans. Bids for the project should be let in the next month and members would likely vote to award the project in either February or March.
Bean Road is located at the end of the runway at the airport. Plans are in the works to extend that tarmac to 7,000 feet.
Harris said the first phase of the estimated $2.4 million Bean Road relocation project would likely start in April or May and wrap up before year’s end. The second phase would take place next year.
LEGAL FILING
A court battle related to that same runway expansion also continued Wednesday with a new legal filing from the county. The board has been seeking to acquire property from nearby landowner Margaret Dreyer. She owns a 72-acre parcel at the end of the runway that’s needed for the Bean Road expansion but there’s been a dispute over its value. After losing an appeal in December, the county was ordered to pay Dreyer $865,000.
Last week Dreyer’s attorney, John W. Mead, filed a request for a certified judgment in order for his client to get paid. Clark County Commissioners’ Attorney Greg Fifer answered with a filing seeking relief from paying Dreyer because her exceptions to the county’s appraisal were not filed in a timely manner. Fifer’s motion also argues that the court was without jurisdiction to conduct further proceedings regarding damages. He cited Indiana code 32-24-1-11 which notes that exceptions to assessments must be filed within 20 days.
A hearing date has not yet been set on the new filing.
MORE BOARD BUSINESS
During the meeting the board also considered whether to accept payments of $35 for each board member for each monthly meeting. No action was taken on the matter.
The amount is included in the latest budget but it’s not something the board has ever received in the past.
“I just assumed we were doing this for fun,” said Bill Halter, a board member.
Ron Barnes said it was not enough to motivate someone to take the job. However, he noted board membership does entail a terrific amount of paperwork, mileage and time.
They asked attorney Jack Vissing to investigate whether the amount was on par with that being paid to other boards. A recommendation is expected at next month’s meeting.
