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Airport, sheriff look at grants By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer The
Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport is wrapping up its taxiway
extension project and looking ahead for future funding for runway
extension so the airport can attract larger jets. Justin
Hall, airport administrator, reported to the Marshall County Board of
Supervisors July 19. A small grant for $38,000 will fund a runway
extension study and pay for property purchases on work already done, he
said. Federal Aviation Administration funds have
helped make annual improvements at the airport. Funds have recently
been used to secure the property with a chain-link fence, extend the
taxiway the length of the current runway, spiff up the beacon and
build a fuel farm. The current grant will require
only a 2.5 percent local match from the city and county, and a 2.5
percent state match, with the remainder coming from federal sources. Bill
Mobley, with the Marshall County Industrial Development Authority, said
he envisions extending the runway to 5,000 feet in one big leap, if
possible, rather than in increments going up to 4,200 feet first. A
5,000 foot runway will draw more traffic - larger jets - that would
otherwise land in Oxford or Olive Branch, he said. Holly Springs could
get a lot of overflow traffic from game weekend traffic because the
Oxford-University airport cannot handle all the traffic during those
times. He said with enough traffic, the airport could eventually see a
rental car business come on board so travelers can get to and from
their destinations like Oxford. Two industries in
the area already use the airport every week or every day, Mobley said.
And John Jewell Aircraft is known worldwide for its work on small
planes and is certified to work on small jets, he said. Progress
on the airport’s 20-year plan is ahead of schedule because of the
assistance that the FAA has provided in recent years, he said, adding
that the airport authority has good relationships with FAA officials. The board of supervisors approved applying for the grant for the runway extension study. Supervisor
Ronnie Joe Bennett said there is still acreage inside the airport that
can be developed, while supervisor George Zinn III asked about
development around the airport. Mobley said there is privately owned
land that could be available for development outside the airport. Hall
reported that the FAA has funded airport improvements to the tune of
$3.6 million in recent years, including the matching dollars coming
from the city and county. Major David Cook, with
the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, followed Hall in updating
supervisors on the need to be ready to apply for Homeland Security
grants in October. Sheriff’s deputies met with a consulting group
recently to discuss the types of projects the department could apply
for. Cook said they informed the consultants
the sheriff’s department will be interested in applying for federal
funds that require no matching or few matching dollars. If the
department joins in contract with the prospective consultant group,
their fee would come directly from grant monies that are successfully
obtained, he said. The department will also have to work to draw together data supporting any grant application, he said. Cook
said federal dollars available for Homeland Security projects total
$900 million while the state will receive $18 million of that
authorization. He said the department wants input from the board of
supervisors. Supervisor Keith Taylor asked if any dollars would be available for equipment or to expand the jail. “Homeland
Security is for the security and safety of the public,” he said. “It is
more toward preparing for a response to a situation, but there may be
some money available to get some personnel. Infrastructure was
mentioned more toward response or prevention of an incident. My first
impression is there is no money for building.”
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