On Tuesday, the Troup County Board of Commissioners approved a request by county staff to apply for additional state and federal funding for the runway extension at the LaGrange-Callaway Airport.

Troup County has already applied for and received $5,752,855 in federal funds for the runway extension project, and the State of Georgia was expected provide half of the remaining non-federal funding needed for the project, according to information released at previous meetings. This funding request would be for an additional $308,000 in state and federal funding that recently became available, with the county providing some matching funds.

“That [request] allows us to apply for federal and state money with an estimated amount of $58,334 being our match and $158,000 from the state and a federal of $150,000,” County Manager Tod Tentler said. “… Remember [our part] is just an estimate because what happens is we apply for the money, and then we will write a grant in September. Then, they will have the exact numbers, and this will come back before [the commission] before this moves forward.”

Tentler confirmed that the application was to request additional state and federal funding that was “left over” at the end of the fiscal year and could not have been requested earlier.

“In order to get our portion of that funding, we have to ask for it,” Tentler said.

Other items considered on Tuesday included:

• The commission voted to lift the hiring freeze to allow the parks and recreation department to hire a part-time van driver and a recreation complex manager. Both positions are budgeted.
• The commission approved a request from the Troup County Sheriff’s Office to replace the central control board at the Troup County Jail. The panel controls the jail’s gate.
• An amendment to the budgets of the community development, marshal’s office, general government and elections departments was also passed. The amendment was to allow for the transfer of staff and staff positions between departments and did not change the overall budget.
• A budget amendment in the amount of $95,000 for the expansion of the C+D Landfill was also approved.  The expansion is expected to increase the life of the landfill by approximately 10 years, and the plan has been in progress for years, according to County Engineer James Emery.
• The commission approved the development of an update to the Unified Development Ordinance with Canvas Planning Group, which has also done work in LaGrange, Hogansville and West Point. The process is expected to take nine months to complete, and according to Erin Fortner of Canvas Planning Group, the process will include public and stakeholder meetings and a steering committee. According to County Planner Tracie Hadaway, the ordinance needs to be reviewed in order to make it clearer and easier to work with.

The Troup County Board of Commissioners will meet again on Aug. 16 at 9 a.m. at 100 Ridley Ave.