Taxiway project earns board excellence award

Mike Clodfelter, president of the Putnam County Board of Aviation Commissioners, accepted a plaque from Paul A. Shaffer, Butler Fairman Seufert Civil Engineers for the Engineering Excellence Award.

The ACEC Engineering Excellence Award was presented to the Putnam County Board of Aviation Commissioners Monday night by Paul Shaffer, manager of airport development with Butler Fairman Seufert (BF&S) Civil Engineers.

The plaque recognized the Runway 18-36 Parallel Taxiway project, which consisted of building a full parallel taxiway system for the Putnam County Airport.

"Vital safety enhancements were the driving force behind this taxiway construction," stated Board Commissioner JR Scott.

Innovative wetland banking was used to mitigate several acres of wetland, 130,000 cubic yards of embankment was constructed and the airfield was equipped with a state of the art LED taxiway lighting system.

The efforts of BF&S included grant administration, environmental permitting, study, design and construction inspection of all phases of the project.

The project was constructed in three phases: The first phase included grading and drainage.

Phase 2 was paving the various lighting stations and Phase 3 including paving and lighting for the remaining lighting stations along with taxiway.

Funding for the project was made possible through the FAA Airport Improvement Program grants. The parallel taxiway was issued its certificate of substantial completion on June 25, 2007.

In other business the commissioners welcomed Vernon Bothwell, Jr. and JR Scott who will be filling vacant positions on the board left by John Monnett and John Sturgeon.

The election of officers also took place. Incoming Aviation Commissioners are Mike Clodfelter, President, Perry Wainman, Vice President and Rex Eaton, Treasurer.

For information about the Aviation Board contact JR Scott at 765-653-3019.