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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-19-1990.Council Board To Weigh Priorities for TerminalCAPE GIRARDEAU Sunday, August 19, 1990 3A Council, board to weigh priorities for terminal By Don Pritchard Neve Guardian staff writer City staff members told the Cape Girardeau City Council and Aupon Advisory Board they will have to weigh priorities as they decide whether in renovate the airport ter- minal building or build a new one. In ajointmeeting Wednesday, the two groups reviewed cost estimates prepared by Cape architect Thomas Holshouser for both a renovated ter. mirml and a new terminal. Holshouser said renovation of the terminal would cost the city about $120,000 less than a new temdnal. He said building a new terminal north of the airport control tower would allow the existing terminal building to be rented. Q'- Manager J. Ronald Fischer saff4„a local terminal project is a low priority for the Federal Aviation Administration, which will be pay- ing for much of the cost of either due new terminal or renovation of the existing building. "But (the FAA) would go along with this, if this is a priority this community set;" Fischer said. "The airport serves another func- tion other than a place for airplanes in land," airport board member J.T. Seesing said. "The airport (creates) better industrial climate for the rommmity. There the terminal ruilding is the paramount thing. that's what you saw when you "rte to the airport. That's what veryone else sees who comes in to -se the airport ... It should be *=thing that leads credibility in he entire cornnunity. That trans- ates into Procter and Gamble, Jana, M and W and all those son of -ple coming to town that provides mployment for everyone. That's a oy unity high priority but it may alto an FAA high priority." Board member Truman Cole said .e city should design the airport to eet its needs rather than letting the 'AA design it Assistant City Manager Al toverink said the cost of a new ser - mmol is $361,951 morethanthecost of renovating the existing building, coming both the city and FAA shares. "That's important to consider because what we're talking about in terms of FAA money does impact what other projects we can mder- take," Soverink said. He said both the renovation cost estimate and the new terminal cost estimate Hol- slouser prepared exceed the amount set aside for renovation in the masterplan. "So, if we go with this renovation plan or the new building, it will sig- nificantly impactourability to move ahead with some of the other (air- port) projects that are in the five- year capital improvement prog- ram," Soverink said. "The question of priorities is a serious issue." He said the water system at the airport is inadequate for fire protec. tion. "We would have to push that project off a couple of years if we go with either one of these options," Soverink said. He said an aircraft rescue and firefighting station could become a high priority if the airline started using larger airplanes. Soverink said the fire station also would be delayed, if either terminal option was adopted. Stoverink said apron expansion and extension of the road around the east end of the general aviation apron to provide access to corporate hangars would be delayed by a ter- minal project. Soverink said the terminal work also would push back the day when the municipal airport deficit would be erased. Mayor Gene Rhodes asked Soverink if leasing the existing building would bring in additional money. "Clearly, if we can lease this building out, that's the key, but that's a big -ir;' Soverink said. "Il may happen next year, it may hap- pen five years from now. I want to be sure you're aware of that If we don't get it leased out right away, it will effect our costs." Board member William Walker, who also is chairman of the Cape Chamber of Commerce Air Trans- portation Committee said a com- pany may be interested in leasing the building. Rhodes said the existing terminal would be an excellent facility for a Bight school or an air freight operation. "As I understand in the industry that they're wanting o get the freight companies out of St. Louis and Memphis into smaller airports like this, because of the tremendous traffic that's being created;" Rhodes said. "Maybe they could come into Cape and muck their freight from here in St. Louis and here to Memphis." The mayor said the airport is the "front door" of the community, and its buildings should be "eye - appealing." Councilman Hugh White agreed. "If I'm Flying in here on a com. mercial airline, I couldn't care less if you've got 15,000 foot of runway," White said. "If I come in and you've got a podunk terminal, whether or not you've got the finest equipment out there makes no difference to me as a consumer, as a layman or as a potential corporate entity." r Airport board chairman J& McClanahan said he wasn't su when a decision would be mz about the terminal. He said the board will "get seven of our heads together a decide what we're going in do McClanahan said he may call special meeting to discuss the ism He said if a potential renter is lean the decision to build a new terrain would be an easy one to make McClanahan said the termin building should be offered fust Cape Central Airways, which ope atesa flight school, air freightope tion and air charter service at 6 airport McClanahan said he also wou encourage the Air National Gua unit at Lambert Field in St. Louis relocate to Cape Girardeau. "I think lambert would love get rid of them;' McClanahan sai "The F -0's are in the way of the b jets up there. I'd love to see the here." He said St. Joseph, Spain field and Jefferson City have a guard units. "We should have is share if there's a chance at it"