b'GENERAL AVIATION8GK 49We had five landowners involved, andmillion, the state contributed $18 million and it took over a year to finalize purchase ofGallatin County paid $55,500. property. But it was nine years (2008 toCounty representatives and Goodwyn 2017) from the push to revitalize, in 2008,Mills Cawood worked together to secure to closing on the land, Paslick recalls.funding for each phase of development. Wright, who was Gallatin CountyTo qualify for FAA funds, a new airport site Attorney from 2003 to 2022, assistedmust be identified on the National Plan of Paslick and other Goodwyn Mills CawoodIntegrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), and personnel in the land acquisition.building a new general aviation airport Paul Steely, thetypically spans at least three construction firms aviation leader inseasons. Goodwyn Mills Cawood Kentucky, notes thathelped the county apply for FAA Airport it is generally difficultImprovement Program funding for each for airport boards toyear of development. The first application understand how longfor federal grants occurred in the 2018-these projects take2019 funding period, and subsequent and to sustain thePAUL STEELY submissions of federal and state funding necessary enthusiasm.applications for eligible projects is ongoing.You may be looking at 20 years. If buildingThe main sources of revenue for the an airport was easy, every county wouldairport will be land leases, rental income build one, he relates. Gallatin Countyand fuel sales.Fiscal Court appoints at least six board members, and you hope that they stayCurrent and Future Construction was determined to build the airport where ittogether for many years.When it finally came time to break ground, is, the location was secured and there wasSteely also brought perspective to theairfield infrastructure was the top priority. excitement, he recalls. But when it cameproject as the states previous AviationSite prep and installation of the 5,000-foot to money, the excitement died. Then it gotCommissioner and former Kentuckyrunway, parallel taxiway and 500-by-350-revived, then died. Aviation Association president. foot aircraft apron began in 2020. Bizzack In 2008, Paslick and his team felt it wasPaslick notes that working with the stateConstruction from Lexington performed an opportune time to revitalize the project.of Kentucky to issue bonds in the countysexcavation and grading work, with crews There was still a hole in the Kentuckyname was a complex undertaking. Tomoving 1.53 million cubic yards of earth Aviation System, along an importantmake 8GK work, all landowners had tofrom rolling hills on the site.economic corridor (Interstate 71 betweencome together to agree. And they did. Having such a long concrete runway Louisville and Cincinnati) that was beingand full-length taxiway is noteworthy for a underserved by aviation, he explains.Acquiring the land through negotiationgeneral aviation airport like 8GK. Because The businesses and industries along Riverwas much preferred to condemnation, theairfield work began during the COVID-19 Road and the Belterra Casino continuedlegal process governments can use to takepandemic, bids for concrete and asphalt to show significant economic growth, andprivate property for public use. Steely waspavement were very close; so the county there were a large number of registeredglad for the successful outcome, saying,and its project team opted for longer-aircraft owners within a two-county radiusGeneral aviation is not really known forlasting concrete. The Harper Companyof Gallatin County. condemnation. It is much better to negotiateof Hebron, KY, processed, poured and with landowners. The acquisition of propertypaved 85,857 square yards of concrete,Jim Hansen, Planning and Zoningwas not only a significant step toward the10 inches thick to create the mission-administrator for Gallatin County, offersairports development, but also demonstratedcritical surfaces.a tongue-in-cheek explanation of thethe commitment of the state and Gallatin final outcome: In reality, it was a gameCounty to the success of the project.Since the June 2023 ribbon-cutting of musical chairs. This [airport] projectceremony for the airfield, plans for a fuel bounced up and down I-71, and weNegotiations for property that givesfarm, terminal building and 10-unit T happened to be in the right location whenthe airport direct access to I-71 werehangar are moving toward construction on the music stopped.particularly crucial. There is so muchvarious timetables. upside for this airport with this location and excellent access, says Paslick.Hansen reports that funding for the Negotiation, Not Condemnation fuel farm was released this summer, and Gallatin County is a rural community filledFunding excavation work for the terminal area and with family farms. So acquiring more thanThe price tag to date for 8GK is about $44fuel pad has been completed. The system 650 acres needed for the airport projectmillion. Federal funding provided $25.5will have two 12,000-gallon tanks (one was an extended process.for Jet A, one for low-lead avgas), but AirportImprovement.comOctober 2024'