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Copyright 1998. The Tuskegee News, Tuskegee, Alabama. Published December 10, 1998.
Tuskegee City Council President Freddie Washington said at Tuesday's council meeting that he is ready to move forward on accepting funds for rehabilitation of Moton Field after information provided earlier in the day by official Keefer Grimes of the Jackson, Miss. FAA office.
At stake is between $900,000 and $1.4 million to provide safety improvements at Moton Field. They include a two-inch overlay of the 5,003-foot runway, a Global Positioning Landing (GPL) system and an updated master plan.
In its meeting two weeks ago, the council voted 3-2 not to accept the plan. Voting against were Lateefah Muhammad, Jess Colson and Washington. Voting in favor were Mae Doris Williams and Rozell Chappell Jr.
There has been confusion about whether the council or the Tuskegee Airport Authority has the role of managing Moton Field. The Airport Authority was incorporated in 1993 and prepared a $26 million application for expansion and improvements at Moton Field in hopes of developing an International cargo hub that, according to Airport Authority consultant Bobby Owens, could eventually lead to 15,000 jobs in the community.
That plan was accepted by the FAA and is on file with the FAA. However, it has never been funded. Council members voting against accepting the cur- rent rehabilitation plan for Moton Field were led to believe that accepting the improvements available now would jeopardize the Airport Authority's application that was prepared five years ago.
Grimes was asked to attend Tuesday morning's meeting of the Airport Authority to give his input to help explain the situation involving grants for Moton Field.
The Airport Authority met nearly two hours at its regular monthly meeting with many citizens in attendance, along with Mayor Ron Williams, City Attorney Milton Davis, Moton Field Fixed Base Operation Col. (Ret.) Roosevelt Lewis, Airport Authority members Bifford Stephens (chairman), John Hicks and Ray Griffin, as well as city council members Washington and Muhammad.
Early in the Airport Authority meeting, a motion was made to give Col. Lewis two weeks to provide documents asked for by the authority or the authority would advertise for a new FBO. Col. Lewis told the authority that he has some legal issues that would be involved for his removal, including a lease with the city that would have to be checked for legalities. There is some debate as to how long the lease covers, but those details will have to be researched.
Grimes told the Airport Authority that removal of an FBO involves FAA rules and regulations and that would not be a proper step at this point. The motion to advertise for a new FBO in two weeks was withdrawn.
Grimes said he came to the meeting with the purpose of providing information about the rehabilitation project and seemed surprised when debate ensued about who has authority between the city and Airport Authority over securing grants and funding for Moton Field.
Initially, the Airport Authority planned an executive session with Grimes. Davis, acting as city attorney in protection of the city's interest, informed the Airport Authority (which has no attorney of record) that an executive session, unless to discuss the good name and character of individuals, would be in violation of state law. The executive session was then called off.
Questioned by Davis, Grimes admitted there is some confusion by the FAA about what's going on in Tuskegee with Moton Field. However, he pointed out that the city has the deed to Moton Field according to documents in FAA files. For that reason, Grimes said all dealings for funding of projects must be done through the city, not the Airport Authority.
He also pointed out that the $26 million application submitted five years ago by the Airport Authority was "obsolete" after three years, even though it is still on file with the FAA. Grimes explained that the project can only be approved for funding by Congress and that that not been done. Grimes said that the old application needs to be updated and resubmitted, which the Airport Authority indicated it plans to do and asked for guidance from Grimes how to go forward.
Funding for the rehabilitation plan for Moton Field that is on the table was part of a nationwide effort by FAA to upgrade airports, explained Grimes. He also said he is charged with making sure that certain things be done as part of the requirement for the funding for rehabilitation at Moton Field for safety purposes. Otherwise, the airport could lose its license. Col. Lewis said that even Tuskegee University President Dr. Benjamin F. Payton does not fly into Moton Field now because of problems recently with three jets "sinking in" on the runway. It was pointed out that the city could be held liable for damage to planes caused by faulty conditions at the airport.
Grimes stressed that it is imperative for the council to accept the plan soon in order to be funded before the March 1999 when funds will be drawn down by the FAA. He also pointed out that safety factors should be taken care of first, then additional applications for projects could follow. Those would be considered beginning in July. In other words, funding could come in increments with additional applications.
That seemed to satisfy Washington who stated he was a hearing new information about getting funding now that would not jeopardize additional requests later.
A question about a resolution being passed by the council to "reaffirm" the Airport Authority's status as the entity for running Moton Field was brought up. Muhammad said such a resolution was expected to be passed shortly. However, she was challenged on that by Davis, who said she shouldn't be speaking for the council on the matter. Stephens asked for decision within 72 hours. Washington declined to make that timeline commitment.
At the council meeting Tuesday night, Chappell said he was ready to vote to accept the airport rehabilitation plan. Washington asked that a vote be put off until a debriefing of the Airport Authority meeting with Grimes could be conducted for Colson (who was out of town Tuesday), Mae Doris Williams and Chappell. Washington indicated after that point he would be ready to go ahead with accepting the rehabilitation plan after clarification of some matters.
At its meeting, the Airport Authority revealed it has legal counsel willing to provide free service until the Authority has funding to pay for that service. A letter acknowledging that the Authority is interested will be sent to the firm, but no decision was finalized Tuesday on accepting the offer.
The Authority also has a new address: P.O. Box 833870, Tuskegee, AL 36083. Also being sought is a building for an Airport Authority office.
In its meeting Tuesday night, the council accepted bids for 5,500 garbage containers to be used when the city begins collecting garbage Feb. 1, 1999. Truck Equipment Sales, Inc. of Dothan was low bidder at $188,650.
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