Improvements are in the works for Foley’s municipal airport following action by the City Council.
The City Council accepted the bid of RH Deas Co. to improve airport drainage. The company was the lowest bidder on the project with a submission of $249,971.
The council also voted to accept federal and state grants to improve drainage at Holk Field at the Foley Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration will provide $287,000. The Alabama Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Bureau will provide $7,553. The two grants are expected to pay approximately 90% of the cost of the project.
Rachel Keith, Foley airport manager, said crews from the Public Works Department have already done work to improve the drainage, but more work is needed.
The drainage area is located in the northeast quarter of the airport, running north from Peachtree Avenue to the Magnolia River, where it crosses the airport property.
Improvements include regrading the area, adding concrete sidewalls at the drainage outfall from Peachtree and shoring up the sides with rock where needed.
The council also voted to accept grants from the FAA and ALDOT for the final reimbursement to pay the costs of an eight-unit T-hanger constructed at the airport in 2024.
The city will receive more than $140,000 to finish paying for the hangars.
Foley is also looking at plans for a new airport terminal. The council approved seeking grant funding to replace the current terminal.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the city is not considering additional services at the airport, such as commercial flights. The city needs to replace the current terminal and provide a new site for the airport’s fixed base operator, the company that runs the facility.
“When we say terminal, this is not going to commercial service,” Hellmich said. “This is maintaining the current status. Our FBO is in a terminal that’s been there for a lot of years. We need this.”
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