The Daviess County Aviation Board can now proceed with plans to move CR 350N, purchase land and extend the runway.

Commissioners approved a request to relocate CR 350N at their meeting Monday morning. County Board of Aviation President Bob Barron said the approval will allow the airport to move ahead with forming plans and applying for state and federal funding.

The airport wants to move the road, he said, because currently the airplanes cannot use the entire runway for safety reasons. The plan also calls for an extension of the north-south runway from 4,800 to 5,001 feet to allow larger jets to land.

More takeoff room would also allow planes to leave with full instead of partially full fuel tanks, Barron continued. Land acquisition should start once the money is available, around 2012.

The road will be relocated north before the old location is closed to ensure area residents still have access, Barron said, and he will work with the county’s Highway Department to develop more detailed road plans for commissioners to approve.

The project should be 95 percent funded by the federal Aviation Trust Fund, which includes user fees associated with aviation and no tax money. The rest of the money, a match for the Trust Fund grant, comes from the avionics department of the state Department of Transportation (2.5 percent) and from county coffers (2.5 percent).

Barron also mentioned that the state is requesting the airport resurface its runway, an estimated $1.6 million project. Also, people or companies building tall buildings near the airport will have to apply to the airport board for safety reasons.

In other business

HOSPITAL BOARD

Commissioners reappointed Dr. Dan McCarthy to the Daviess Community Hospital Board.

CAMA SOFTWARE

County Assessor Dennis Eaton presented the one bid he received for assessment software. He said due to changes at the state level, his current software will be extinct this year. Eight licenses for the software will cost $110,600, but Eaton may be able to get a 15 percent early bird discount. Maintenance will cost $18,000 per year.

Eaton agreed with the commissioners that the cost seems high, but his office has to have it to comply with state law. Commissioners accepted the bid.

JAIL BONDS

Commissioners signed off on paperwork to refinance the jail construction bonds at a lower interest rate. County attorney Jeff Hayes said they will know how much they’ve saved after the bonds are sold, in about 30 days.