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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-06-1990.Board Suggests Terminal RenovationBoard suggests terminal- rnovation By Jay Easilrck Staff writer CAPE GIRARDEAU— The Ar - port Advisory Board Tuesday recommended that the City Council renovate the airport terminal build- ing and purchase 114 acres of farm- land adjacent to the airport for fu- ture industrial development. The recommendation ends more than a year of deliberations over whether to renovate the existing terminal, build a new one adjacent to the terminal, or build one across the airport on a different site. The Airport Advisory Board fust began to discuss the need for a new terminal building about five years ago. In September the board recom- mended construction of a new ter- minal adjacent to the existing building. The board's recommenda- tion stipulated that a six-month grace period be allowed before construction to allow theboard o continue studying the matter and try to secure a tenant for the exist- ing terminal building. But last month board member Truman Cole objected to the recommendation. Cole Tuesday made a motion that the city purchase land northwest of the airport where a new facility could be built later. His motion also included a recommendation that the city renovate the existing terminal building unlit the new site could to developed industrially. - Cole and other board Members agreed with city staff members, who said the new terminal adjacent to the existing building would be impractical and would add to the already congested general aviation area of the import. Assistant City Manager At Stoverink said a new terminal See TERMINAL, Page 7 SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN, Cape Glrercleau, Mo., Thurs., Dec. 6, ls,.d--Page i A Terminal - From Pagel building on the northwest side of But before everyone voted the you can gel a bond issue passed. "I think you're getting yourself in the aispmt would be too expensive. board reoppeenned the motion for dis- Plan A cur B, either one, is realistic. a trap that all of a sudden you see a The renovation project, designed cession. Beard members said they "I would strongly recommend chance to get a terminal building, by architect Tom Holshouser, will didn't understand the motion and, renovation of the existing termi- and you're getting stuck on this cost an estimated $1 million, with after a long debate, finally agreed nal." grandiose plan; he said. the city being responsible far about on the motion as clarified But Cole said he was concerned "Five years ago," Cole said, "it $545,000 and Federal Aviation Ad- Stoverink said he agreed with the that security will soon become a was impossible o build a new ler- ministration entitlements funding board's final recomnsendation, problem at the airport, and if the minal — the only possible cause the balance. He said the plan o renovate the terminal building was removed would be renovation. Now we're According to Holshouser's terminal building and expand the from other airport operations, the put in a position where were told estimates, a new terminal building airport for future development is facility could more easily be to build a new terminal here or adjacent to the existing building more feasible than wailing to my to secured. forget the whole project." would cost about $1.3 million, with secure funding for a more ex- He also contended that a terminal But Soverink called a terminal the cit paying about $540.000. pensive terminal building across northwest of the airport would en- building across the airport a "Taj ding northwest of the air- the airport. courage industrial development Mahal that the city can't afford. port would cost an estimated $4.9 We have to make a decision on there. Cole said he didn't think it was million, with the city responsible this and move on down the road," Stoverink said the board should "prudent" to move quickly to spend for about $900,000. he said. "Plan C (building the facil- wait until some of the development money on building a new facgily After Cole's motion, board mem- ity across the airport), financially, starts before pursuing a new fermi- only to "find suddenly that we bei I.T. Seesing called for a vote. is totally out of the question unless nal building in that area, spent it in the wrong place."