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Land purchase for airport expansion still up in the air

03 July 2008– By William Holloman
staff writer
Land appraisers are still trying to come up with a marketable price for two small tracts of land needed to expand the runway at the Mount Olive Municipal Airport.

The process has been going on for months, but Mount Olive town manager Charles Brown said he feels there is some light at the end of the tunnel now.

The two tracts of land total approximately seven acres at the south end of the current runway.

He said he is confident appraisers will be able to come up with a figure for the land acquisition by late summer.

The town already owns the other land needed for the project that will cost approximately $500,000 to extend the runway from 3,700 to 5,000 feet.
Originally, the runway was to have been extended to the north, but would have required the expense of relocating Kelly Springs Road.

It fizzled due to area opposition.

The town manager said once a figure can be reached negotiations with the two land owners should not be another hurdle.

The funding for the project is in place.

Brown said engineers are also finalizing their design for the runway extension, and have already completed environmental impact and topographical work.

Once the appraisal is done, Brown said the project should begin moving quickly.

He also said there has been an increase in interest lately from corporations who want to bring bigger aircraft to the local airport.

This interest, he said, is already resulting in discussions about leasing property for airport hangar construction.

The town manager said people actually do not realize the economical impact the airport has.

Four years ago North Carolina Department of Commerce figures stated that the local airport was generating $4 million annually to the local economy in Wayne County and Mount Olive.

“I suspect those numbers have gone up considerably, because since then we have had a number of corporate jets that have been out there for service and inspection. When you bring a jet for annual inspection that is anywhere from 400 to 800 man hours and that means jobs,” the town manager concluded.

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