The Calvert City Council is discussing how to develop the state owned Kentucky Dam Airport. Mayor Lynn Jones said the airport has potential to increase tourism and boost the local economy, but it needs some upgrades. He said it needs more hangars, a fuel station, and fence to keep animals off the runway among other things.
But Kentucky Department of Aviation Commissioner Winn Turney said the airport recently lost $150,000 in annual federal funding due to the FAA listing it as unclassified. Kentucky Dam Park Manager Scott Ratzlaff said maintaining the airport will be difficult without federal funding. Jones said financial responsibility for the upgrades would be up for discussion with the Kentucky Department of Parks, which currently maintains the airport, if the city council decides to move forward with airport development.
Jones said developing the airport would help increase tourism at Kentucky Dam Village and help attract more businesses to regional industrial complexes.