Airport Authority Seeks New Board Member

The Sidney Airport Authority is seeking a new board member.

The Airport Authority is a five-member board elected to six-year terms of service. The board is responsible for the operation of the airport under the authority of the Sidney City Council. Board members must reside within the city limits.

Board member Scott Cowan recently submitted his resignation. He is resigning to move to Oklahoma with his family. He resigned in the May 9 meeting. He was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in August 2017. His term expires in December 2020.

The duties of the board include approving all expenditures and uses of funds from state, local and federal sources.

“We also determine the priority of all improvement projects to keep the airport up to date with all Federal Aviation Standards,” said Airport Authority Board Chairman Ron Meyer. “We also do whatever we can to attract new business to the airport or the city of Sidney.”

At the June 13 Airport Authority Board meeting, Jim Price said he is interested in the vacant seat. He said his wife is a pilot and he has a passion for general aviation.

Meyer said there are nine planes on the waiting list for hangar space at the Sidney airport. The Airport Authority is looking toward building some new hangars to address the need.

The Airport Authority is in the process of updating the beacon, wind cones and taxiway markings to meet federal standards. The board was told Thursday three bids were received for construction of a new beacon and tower. The project will cost $174,501, with the City responsible for 10 percent of the cost.

Projects required by the Federal Aviation Administration are funded 90:10 by the federal government, with the remaining 10 percent coming from state and local government. The airport is also supported by a local mill levy.

In Thursday’s meeting of the Airport Authority board, the board also talked about adding new signs directing people to the airport, and from the airport to downtown.

The airport also recently had its Nebraska Department of Transportation inspection. Three runway lights were out and the drop-off at the end of runway 31 is about four inches too deep.

In the June 11 city council meeting, the council agreed to advertise the position for two to three weeks through the Sidney Sun-Telegraph, the city’s website and the radio station. At the end of the period, applications will be submitted to Mayor Roger Galloway for consideration.

The meeting also included a public hearing on rezoning of a tract of land adjacent to Sidney Regional Medical Center from C-1 to Agricultural.