News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Upper Cumberland Regional Airport will move to phase two of its fuel farm project.
The Airport board approved a $362,500 bid to install power lines for the pump, construct a maintenance building, and build foundations for the tanks. Thatcher Sales & Erectors submitted the low bid. Construction expected to begin this summer.
Manager Dean Selby said the new fuel tanks will be completely contained and have an area to control spillage.
“The biggest problem is our in ground tanks have also exceeded 30 years of age,” Selby said. “We are initiating a plan to redo the fuel farm to where they are above ground and more environmentally sound. Especially, with the proximity to wetlands. We want to be as environmentally conscience as we can.”
Selby said the Federal Aviation Administration will pay for $300,000 of the project. The state and the airport will pay $16,700 each. Upper Cumberland Regional Airport is responsible for any overages remaining. Selby said the airport already has the funds set aside to pay for the overages.
“We are just splitting this up in multiple years and multiple steps, so that it is not like we have to spend an ‘X’ number of unbelievable amount of dollars to do this by tomorrow,” Selby said. “We are taking a progressive step of looking at this and plan for the future.”
One of the tanks will store jet fuel. The other will be an AV gas tank for 100 low-lead reciprocating engines. Selby said each tank will be separated across the field since different aircraft use each fuel.
In other business Tuesday night, the board decided to explore options to demolish a house on the property. Selby said two contractors were interested in restoring the old farmhouse. But they determined moving the house off the property would be too expensive. The board now wants to salvage the house. Selby said he will consult with an environmental engineer before moving forward.
Selby said the house interferes with the virtual airspace as well as the long-range master plans to build a ramp on the property.
