City accepts bids for airport work

The Rector City Council voted unanimously at a special meeting Monday night to award a bid to Delta Asphalt of Paragould for resurfacing the municipal airport.

Delta bid $333,800 on the project. The only other bidder, Drummond Asphalt of Wynne, submitted a total of $390,785.

Rector recently received a major grant from the Arkansas Board of Aeronautics for the airport improvement project, which involves resurfacing and striping the runway and improving the access road and site fencing.

The board normally awards grants on an 80-20 matching basis, but Rector was able to secure a 90-10 grant, which greatly reduces the city's share of the costs. At the grant presentation meeting, director John Knight said Rector is in strong need of the improvements. He cited the hardships caused by the recent ice storm in this area as a reason to provide additional funding for the community.

Rector was awarded the largest grant from among the 41 communities, which received a total of $3,500,920.

Voting for the bid award at the special meeting were aldermen Cam Cate, Mac Manchester, Teresa Roofe and David Freeman. Also present were mayor Ron Kemp and recorder-treasurer Lowell McKenney.