The Valley R/C Flyers Model Airplane Club has been using the former Shawmut Airport in Valley, Ala., but the property now has a boat ramp and walking track that interfere with the club’s activities. The club was limited to two days per week in the hottest part of the day and membership dropped from 43 to 12.
“We all live in Troup County and go to the Valley, but they’ve done just about everything with the walking track to push us out,” said club member Thomas Anderson of LaGrange.
The County Commission and state Environmental Protection Division would have to give final approval before the club could lease an estimated 4 to 5 acres in a closed section of the 115-acre landfill on Parmer Road in Mountville. A small landing strip, not necessarily paved, would be built on the flat land.
“They can do some test flying and see how it works out,” said county engineer James Emery, who oversees the landfill.
He said the club would look at the lay of the land, wind directions, where trees are located, and where county employees and inmates are working.
“I deal with a lot of issues at the landfill, and this is about the last one I ever would have expected to come up – to fly model airplanes,” Emery said.
Commissioner Ken Smith said the county should do all it can to help the club, adding, “I think it’s a good idea.”
As of 2005, model airplane fields were built on 156 public landfills throughout the United States, club member Patrick A. Curry said.
“All landfills are flat on top and when a landfill is finished and closed the surface is somewhat elevated compared to the surrounding land,” Emery said. “They’d like a place they don’t have to share with a lot of other users. Most large flat areas without trees have other uses going on – parks at a minimum.”
Curry said the club will look at offering a field day for students in the county school system. The Boy Scouts have an aviation merit badge that requires scouts to build and fly a model airplane.
In other business Tuesday, the commission:
n Awarded a metal building contract of $87,100 to Langford Construction Co. in LaGrange for a new county fire station next to Long Cane Middle School. Daniel Construction Co. in LaGrange was the only other bidder at $98,458.
Langford will erect the 60-by-70-foot building after the county prepares the slab. The station may open in four to five months.
Commissioner Richard English said several people have expressed concern about the fire station contributing to an already congested Long Cane Road, but County Manager Mike Dobbs said the issue has been addressed with the school system.
“We’re looking at the possibility of a two-foot widening on each side” with grant funds, Dobbs said.
Meanwhile, the Fuller E. Callaway Foundation has agreed to donate 2 acres on Whitfield Road for another new fire station.
n Agreed to buy 10 digital hand-held radios for up to $25,000 for the Hogansville Police Department. The county will be repaid from Hogansville’s share of lease revenue from a telecommunications tower that was built on city-owned property for the 800-megahertz radio system that went into effect today.
Two companies have expressed an interest in co-locating on the tower, Dobbs said.
n Approved the final steps in getting the county’s 20-year comprehensive plan approved by the state Department of Community Affairs.
Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@ lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.
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