By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran delivered good news to members of the community on Friday announcing that $4,038,000 in federal funding has been authorizef for improvements at Freeman Field, the Junction City airport.
Moram had a message for taxpayer constituents. "The money is not added on. It helps us take money that's already going to be spent someplace and direct it in some place that we believe has merit." The money is included in a transportation bill that has been approved by the House and Senate, and signed into law by the President. The funds will be used for rehabilation of the runway and for adding asphalt.
Juncion City Public Works Director Ray Ibarra said that the airport's runway needs to be done. Nearly two years were spent pursuing the money. He outlined the plan for the project. "It's going to be a full depth reclamation on the runway. It's going to be a rehab where they're going to pulverize that base that's currently out there to be able to give us a good standard base and we're going to white top it with concrete." Ibarra added that the work should take care of the runway for several years.
Ibarra also noted that with a small amount of extra money that the city might get from that, they might be able to do some needed taxiway improvements.
City Commissioner Pat Landes said the local hospital makes extensive use of the airport. With a rural hospital area everything can't be taken taken care of here so they've got to get people to the care that they need. He added that there are also businesses at the airport that work on and build airplanes plus a lot of enthusiats that use the facility.
Mayor Terry Butler pointed out that a Freedom Fest fundraiser, Balloons Bands and Barbecue will be held at the airport on the second Saturday in May.