The Russellville Municipal Airport runway will see resealing in the coming months, a project that should be completed every ten years as preventative maintenance for both safety and aesthetic reasons.

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

Russellville Municipal Airport’s runway will get a much-needed facelift soon with a resealing project as the focus of a grant application approval and bid approval at Monday’s city council meeting.

The resealing of the runway is a project that needs to be completed, airport manager Harry Mattox said, about every ten years. With Russellville’s runway being completed in 2004, the time is now for that maintenance effort.

“Doing this now should allow the runway to stay in shape for another 10 years,” Mattox said.

Low bid for resealing was from Alexander Sealcoating & Striping in the amount of $124,514.

An FAA grant application was also approved to request 90 percent of the funding needed for the project – totaling $185,722, including the city’s contract for construction management. The remaining costs will be split between the state and the city.

Both aesthetic and safety purposes are at stake with completing this resealing and restriping.

“We’ve got to maintain the (runway identification) numbers in good shape,” Mattox said. “(And resealing) will allow the runway to maintain its integrity.”

Also approved was the contract with Garver, represented by Matt Mims as project manager, for construction management.

“The airport is very important for economic development,” said Mayor David Grissom. “We’re excited to be able to make these improvements.”

Another item approved by the city council Monday was to begin the process of widening, restriping and adding speed bumps to Parliament Drive.

The road that provides backdoor access to Russellville Middle School is challengingly narrow for the heavy traffic load, Councilman David Palmer explained. This is particularly problematic coming over the hill, where visibility is limited.

Palmer said now is the opportune time to move forward on this project because the same company whose bid was approved for the work is also currently on site for work on Waterloo. Since the company is already onsite with equipment, cost and hassle is reduced.

“The fact that they are already out there mobilized gives us the chance to save a little money,” Palmer said.

Plans are to widen the road by two feet and restripe it – a project that should take one to two days, completed during the day while school is in session so as not to impede before school or after school traffic, Palmer said.

“I carry my kids there every day, and it gets pretty tough,” Palmer said. “It’s very uncomfortable right there.”

The project was approved unanimously by the council, not to exceed $36,000.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about for some time, and we’re glad we’ve got the in place bid to do it,” Grissom said. “We’re glad we’re able to make that improvement.”

To wrap up Monday’s meeting, Kenneth Tompkins addressed the council on the topic of the geese that were exterminated in early July in Russellville, prior to Jam on Sloss Lake, by the Russellville Police Department.

“This situation could have been handled better,” Tompkins said. “That’s why I’m here presenting my ideas for the future.”

Tompkins presented a packet of materials to the council, outlining ways to handle the goose population in the future, including spraying the grass at Sloss Lake with an unpleasant-tasting substance; planting tall shrubbery around the lake to create a less-desirable habitat for the geese; or at the very least, if they have to be killed, allowing them to be hunted and killed for food as opposed to being disposed of.

“A full grown goose represents five to six servings,” Tompkins said. “I’m sure there’s people in Russellville and Franklin County … that would appreciate a goose dinner.”

Chief Chris Hargett reiterated that his department did what it saw necessary, in full accordance with the law and with a proper permit, to eliminate a health and safety issue in regards to the overwhelming geese population.

The council also:

– approved a quote to replace the guardrail on Highway 48 at the bridge over Payne Creek, which was damaged in a recent single-vehicle accident, in the amount of $9,025.

– approved a revised fire department volunteer roster.

– accepted resignation from patrol officer Dustin Witt and posted vacancy.

– approved quote for placement of single barrel concrete box culverts at Lawrence Street between Alabama Highway 24 East and U.S. Highway 32 near the Innovative Hearth Products facility.