NEWS 25 - WEHT: Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro-Owensboro Airport To Lease Land For Armory Move
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story by Corey Allan
OWENSBORO - The National Guard armory is stationed miles away from Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport. But the plan is for the two to become neighbors, by having the armory border the airport's property in the 3300 block of Tamarack Road.
"The National Guard has been called on several times as you know recently for the ice storm, hurricane, and the two tornados. We think it's good for everybody," said airport manager Bob Whitmer.
A 99 year lease is in place between the airport and the Kentucky State Military Department Armory Corporation. Surveying and lot consolidation studies are in the works connecting the two. The federal government told the city earlier in October they would allocate $10.6 million in the 2011-2012 fiscal year budget to construct a new armory by the airport. The city however must match $3.4 million. "It will not only be a facility to recruit and train, but it will have an apron attached to it connected to the runway. So there could be the possibility of future aviation services," said Whitmer. Military planes taking off and landing in Owensboro, Whitmer says, would add value to the airport. And help keep the airport's control tower funded and those in the air safe.
"When you have a military presence, you add greatly to those numbers because it's consistent and routine. We can ensure we keep our tower with that, or that could be a contributing factor," said Whitmer. He added, "we think it's going to be done, but there is no absolute commitment."
City leaders are lobbying the state to place that $3.4 million in their future budgets. We talked with city operations manager Tony Cecil. He expects an answer from Frankfort on December 18.
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