A redesigned commercial terminal at Southeast Texas Regional Airport will use about half the space it did before Hurricane Rita shut it down.
Jefferson County Commissioners Court saw preliminary plans Monday, which will be used to develop a cost estimate as the county applies for Federal Aviation Administration money to pay for the renovation.
Airport Manager Hal Ross has said he hopes to get at least $6 million in FAA money.
Jim LeBlanc, an architect with Corgan Associates of Dallas, presented a floor plan that would leave room for two airlines, security offices, a travel agency and rental car counters on the west side of the terminal, to the right as passengers enter. A little less than half the building on the east side would be walled off and left open for other uses.
LeBlanc called the terminal "a good building, well planned, but way over capacity."
The building was designed in 1979, before deregulation of the airline industry, LeBlanc noted.
Hurricane damage has closed the terminal for the past 10 months. The general aviation terminal has been modified to accommodate commercial traffic, too.
Ross also asked commissioners to consider moving forward on developing airport property along U.S. 69, which has a new state-built frontage road. Sonic Automotive, the parent company of Philpott Motors, has proposed leasing about eight acres along the highway for 33 cents per square foot per year.
Commissioner Eddie Arnold said the price sounded too low, a concern echoed by other court members.
Ross said he is continuing negotiations on price, but hopes to bring a letter of intent in for court action as soon as next week.
"They have the potential to be a real anchor," Ross said of the auto dealer.
Monday also was the start of budget hearings as the county plans for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
The court held off on making decisions about pay raises, job reclassifications and new positions. Tax Assessor-Collector Miriam Johnson had asked to reclassify some positions. District Clerk Lolita Ramos requested one new clerk for domestic relations and one for records management. Five clerks have been eliminated from that department since she took office less than four years ago.
Hearings continue at 9:30 a.m. today with requests from the sheriff's office, county clerk, Ford Park and constables. Hearings continue through Friday.
Also on Monday, the court approved giving mosquito control an extra $125,000 to continue spraying for about two more weeks. The money comes mainly from a contingency fund.
The department likely will need more money to keep spraying for the rest of the fiscal year, which runs through Sept. 30, County Auditor Patrick Swain said.
Copyright: The Beaumont Enterprise -- 7/19/06
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