Despite being unsuccessful twice in grant funding for extending the airport’s taxiway, the Town of Oliver is following the try-try again motto.
But this time it plans to split the project in two – north and south taxiway.
The existing project involves extending the taxiway in both a southerly and northerly direction, with an anticipated cost of $592,000.
The Town was hoping to receive two-thirds funding, meaning its portion would be $197,333 (funded by pre-paid leases).
But Chief Financial Officer Dave Svetlichny said they suspect the project is too large in scope, hence the reason for it being rejected for funding.
Under the current grant guidelines, the maximum provincial funding is capped at 50 per cent. This means the Town would have to pay $296,000, which exceeds the total pre-paid leases it holds, leaving a shortfall of $36,000.
Therefore, Svetlichny recommended extending only the northerly portion of the taxiway at an estimated cost of $346,000.
He noted the north end of the airport is more active than the south end.
“This extension would open up new opportunities for future airport expansion on the north end, which in turn, could help fund the possible future extension of the southern taxiway,” Svetlichny said.
Council approved the recommendation.
