The Clarksdale-Coahoma County Airport Board met Monday evening, Dec. 10 for the first time in three months to pay bills and discuss the airport’s rental plane.
Chairman David Huggins reminded fellow board members that the Federal Aviation Commission “has decreed that all private planes must be equipped with anti-collision devices beginning in 2020.” He then reminded board members that the local airport’s private plane does not have the device installed.
“I called and asked about the price of the device and was told the device with the small screen would cost us $22,000 and the device with the big screen would cost us $28,000,” Huggins said.
The board voted to purchase the device with the small screen. The device also comes with an upgraded GPS system.
Also on the agenda Monday night was the airport’s ongoing taxiway project.
Huggins told the board that the project is to be funded by a $4 million Federal Aviation Administration grant the board is due to receive next year.
Huggins then informed the board that it had $62,029.01 in the bank with which to pay bills, but he recommended waiting until spring to purchase the $22,000 anti-collision device.
“The government says the anti-collision device must be installed by Jan. 1, 2020,” he said, adding he wanted to be sure and leave enough time for installation.
The board voted to pay bills totaling $11,259.23 for December, including $5,000 for a portion of the annual insurance due on airport property.
