County takes steps toward airport improvements

WOODVILLE – At its Monday morning meeting, the Tyler County Commissioners’ Court discussed and acted on some agenda items concerning planned improvements to the Tyler County Airport.

The first agenda item pertaining to the airport was to designate a consultation selection committee. The committee will be tasked with determining selection criteria, reviewing qualifications for proposals from firms and conducting interviews in order to help the commissioners decide who to award a design contract to.

The five-member committee will consist of County Auditor Jackie Skinner; Pct #3 Commissioner Mike Marshall; Bill Adney; James Broussard and Jeff Burnthorn.

The court also approved a certification stating that the county has sufficient funds for its share of the project costs for the airport layout plan.

The plan, which will establish phased, attainable goals for the airport improvements in the future, comes at an overall project total of $250K. The county has attained state grant funding for $225,000 of that, with a $25K local match. County Judge Milton Powers said that $100K of that state funding had already been received.

Other Business

On Monday, the Tyler County Commissioners Court also approved the following items of business:

• The re-appointment of Walter McAlpin; Billie Read and Glen Conner to serve on the Tyler County Hospital Board of Managers for a new term.
• ESD #3 board members Betty Zimmerman and Jennifer Miller were re-appointed to a new term.
• A purchase of a new Ford Explorer for the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office was approved, with funds utilized from remaining SB 22 grant money and the county’s budget line item for the TCSO vehicle. Powers noted the county was already able to purchase two other vehicles for the department through the SB 22 funding.
• An interlocal agreement between the county and the Regional Public Defender Office Local Government Corporation was approved.
• The purchase of a trailer to haul equipment for Pct. 4 from Hardy Leasing Company for $20K was approved.