Cullman Regional Airport

County leaders lent their signatures to the newest round of improvements slated for the Cullman Regional Airport Tuesday, uniting with the City of Cullman in accepting the terms of a grant to help fund more than $1.2 million in taxiway upgrades.

Co-owned by the city and county and overseen by a jointly-appointed board, the airport is amid an ongoing, multi-phase infrastructure boost that, in its current third phase, will finish up taxiway expansion while adding fresh signage and lighting. The county’s contribution toward the $1.24 million project comes to $56,000.

The Cullman City Council already had approved the grant work at its regular meeting on Monday, where airport director Ben Harrison said the enhancements will help the facility better accommodate a steady increase in both leisure and business traffic.

In other business at its regular meeting, the commission:

• Recognized CARTS driver Wade Hancock, who for the second consecutive year took home top driving honors in the national Roadeo Van Competition in Pittsburgh. Hancock was honored with the Otis Reed Driver of the Year award for his performance in a series of skills-based maneuvers that draws professional drivers from across the country to the annual event.
• Approved acceptance of a $200,000 grant for road improvement work along County Roads 68 and 54, to assist in an industrial expansion project. The commission also selected Community Consultants, Inc. to administers the grant-funded work.
• Approved submission of a Community Block Development Grant valued at $301,904 in the hope of acquiring new all-abilities playground equipment for installation at the Child Development Center.
• Authorized park director Doug Davenport to solicit bids for a second train at Sportsman Lake Park, to serve as a backup during the planned refurbishment of the park’s current train.
• Awarded a $205,465 bid project to Bagby Elevator to replace the existing elevator at the Cullman County Courthouse.
• Approved a plat proposal for Shaggybark subdivision located on County Road 255.
• Accepted County Road 2110 into the county maintenance system.
• Released a surety bond on the Mallard Point subdivision located on County Road 255.
• Extended by one year a surety bond for Pinnacle Landing subdivision located at County Road 1285.