Commission looks to repair airport terminal roof

EL DORADO — The El Dorado Airport Commission is moving forward with plans to repair the roof of the terminal at South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field.

After months of discussions, a subcommittee reported last week that the airport commission should focus on looking for funding to address the leaky roof of the terminal building before fall and winter set in.

The subcommittee was formed to research funding options to implement a master renovation plan for the airport terminal.

Commissioners had discussed whether the roof should be fixed in the short term or rolled into the renovation project.

In March, CADM Architecture, Inc., presented a preliminary budget of $2.1 million for a revised design concept for the master plan.

Architect Blake Dunn also provided a preliminary estimate of $200,000 for roof repairs.

Dunn and airport commissioners have noted that the air and heating units would have to be removed from the roof while repairs are ongoing and for the master renovation plan.

During a meeting last week, Commissioner Aubra Anthony, a member of the subcommittee, suggested that the airport commission prioritize sealing of the roof to prevent further water damage.

“The consensus is we want to get that done before the next rainy

season,” Anthony said. Anthony noted that even though there are potential funding sources for the master plan, the commission does not have a pot of money to immediately get its hands on.

Nor is there time, he

said, to raise the money for the master plan before winter.

Anthony said he didn’t remember the incremental cost involved the heating and cooling units.

Last month, Blake Roberson, of Garver Engineers, the airport commission’s engineering firm of record, advised commissioners to start with the

matching grant program offered by the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics as a funding source.

“If you go to the state with the roof first, with the condition that it’s in, you’d probably be a good candidate to go to the top of the list,” Roberson said then. “Because of the urgency, I’d probably start having that conversation now.”

Commissioners voted last week to put together a bid package for the roof repairs and to pursue a 90/10 matching grant from the state.

Roberson said previously that the grant has a cap of $200,000.