It’s not something the public sees, but a smooth runway is the number-one priority of every airport manager, Joel Long said.
“Grinding and sealing a runway isn’t very exciting, but it’s important,” Joel said.
Joel, the manager of the Clinton Regional Airport, said Frahrner Asphalt, which serves the Midwest, started working on Runway 18/36 on Sept. 10. They completed the rehabilitation work in nine days, during which time the main runway was closed.
“It has expansion joints every six feet,” Joel said of the runway, which is 5,000 feet long, 100 feet wide. “They were ground smooth by machine. Then the joints were sealed with silicone, and all the runway markers and numbers were repainted.”
The bill was $453,000, of which $408,000 was funded by federal grants. The remaining $45,000 came from the city, but the city has the option to use monies granted to it from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Block grants come to Missouri airports through the Missouri Department of Transportation, Joel said, and are funded by aviation fuel taxes and passenger facility charges —that’s the $4.95 on your airline ticket.
When you factor in that the work crew stayed at local motels, ate at local restaurants, and rented some of the machinery locally, he said, and you get a like-new runway plus money pumped into area businesses.
To people who say the airport as a drain on the local economy, Joel replies:
“It’s not,” he said. “It’s a benefit.”
Other airport news: funding for a terminal building was approved on Tuesday, Sept. 19. The project is estimated to cost $1.6 million, Joel said, of which state and federal grants cover 95 percent of the cost.
“The economic benefit to the city of Clinton is more than the few cents on the dollar it cost the city to improve the facility,” Joel said.
City administrator Cristy Maggi is still working out the final agreements with the contractor, Joel said, but they hope to start construction in the next 60 days. The City of Clinton owns the airport property, the runways and the navigational aids. Decisions are made by the city and a board of six citizens, the Clinton Airport Association. Wallace White, the former airport manager, and Maggi put a lot of work into the project, Joel said They chose the engineer that designed the Rolla, Mo., airport terminal, because they liked that design. One change was adding floor-length windows, so people would have a good view of planes coming in to land.
Folks flying into the Clinton Regional Airport in the last three months included auctioneers working at the Cook farm equipment sales. Some planes used the smaller cross-wind runway while work was being done on the longer one, he said.
As airport manager, Joel informed pilots that Runway 18/36 was closed by adding a voice message on AWOS, the Automatic Weather Observing System, which provides continuous, real-time information to pilots landing at an airport that doesn’t have a tower.
Joel was also required to post the runway closure on the FAA’s NOTAM, which used to stand for “Notices to Airmen,” but has been changed to “Notices to Air Missions.”
During the runway upgrade, a 40-foot wide bright yellow “X” was put on the ground at the ends of the runway, so it was visible from the air. The “X” was removed when the project was completed on Sept. 20.
Joel, who is from Pickwick Lake, Tenn., has a degree in aerospace management. He replaced Wallace White, who retired, as airport manager last June. Joel hopes to offer fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies at the new terminal, an amenity offered at some regional airports, he said. The terminal will be completed sometime in 2024, he said.
In other airport news: when the large hangar that was used by the sky-diving company becomes available, it will be an attractive draw to a company that needs a hangar large enough for a corporate aircraft, he said.
The condition of the airport is one of two major factors in a business’ decision to locate to a town, he said, the other being how close it is to the interstate. In addition to corporate business activity, Clinton Regional Airport serves aerial agricultural sprayers, the armed forces, medical facilities, and search and rescue operations. It also offers recreational flying and flight training opportunities.
Runway 18/36 should be good for another 10 to 20 years, Joel said.
“The next time a pilot asks the condition of Runway 36,” he said,”my reply will be ‘perfect.’”
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Barry Glasscock worked in a jewelry store while in high school, and after college he decided to make the jewelry business his career. He bought his jewelry store from someone who was retiring in 1983 …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Several states and the District of Columbia are at it again with initiatives to allow illegal immigrants to vote in local elections and now the President wants to issue them a Federal ID. …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Where would you most like to visit? Finland. -Ian McCue Ireland. -Ashley Muller New Zealand. -Mike Muller
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
NAME: Sydney Claiborne. BIRTHPLACE: Urich, MO. YEARS IN Clinton: Urich, my whole life. FAMILY: I have a dad, mom, step-mom, and 7 siblings. THE BEST THING ABOUT LIVING IN CLINTON IS: I don’t …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
The Chamber and our Ambassadors Committee celebrated Faith & Grace Salon’s one-year anniversary on Thursday morning. Congrats to them and keep watching our Facebook page for information on …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
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Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Get ready for innovative and entertaining stage performances as University of Central Missouri (UCM) Theatre and Dance presents the mainstage play, “Everybody,” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins …
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Jason Burwell, 42, died Mon, Sept. 25, 2023. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, MO and are pending at this time.
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Carrol Kay Rotert, 80, died Thur, Sept. 21, 2023. The Rosary: 7pm Thur, Sept. 28, 2023 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montrose, MO with visitation following until 8:30pm. Funeral Mass: …
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George Perry, 82, Columbia, IL., died Mon., Sept. 18, 2023. Funeral Service was 11am Sept. 23, 2023 Hill & Son Funeral Home, Appleton City, MO. Visitation was 9:30-11am Sept. 23, 2023, preceding …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Thomas Malloy, 51, died Wed, Sept. 20, 2023. There are no services scheduled at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, MO.
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Steven Robert Jensen died Tues, Sept. 19, 2023. A Celebration of Life was held Sat, Sept. 23, 2023 at the Clinton Ward Church (297 NW 40th Rd Clinton, MO) from 11am-2pm. A short service took place at …
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Robert Lennie “Bob” Easton, 77, of Clinton, Missouri passed away Saturday, September 16, 2023 at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo. He was born October 7, 1945 in …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
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Wednesday, September 27, 2023
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Wednesday, September 27, 2023
HIGH SCHOOL and Middle School teams raced in Hermitage at Pomme de Terre Dam on Saturday! As of late, the team has gotten some strong races from their runners. VARSITY GIRLS 28th - Vyla Brown - 24:02 …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
At the Smith-Cotton Invitational last Friday, the team of Makenna Beasley and Emily Barnes partnered up in B-Flight Doubles and went to the championship round, coming out with a second place finish! …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Like Santa Claus, Amanda Johnson has a lot of lists. And in the months before Christmas, she checking them more than twice. “We check everything multiple times,” Amanda said. Amanda is …
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
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Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Marion Bailey, 55, of rural Henry County, Missouri has been sentenced to two life sentences. He pled guilty to two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree with a child under twelve. He was …
