ROCKLAND – Knox County Commissioners in their regular session at the Knox County Courthouse April 11 made three appointments to the Airport Public Advisory Committee. The ten member committee's next meeting is May 8, in the airport terminal's conference room. All meetings are open to the public.

Roger Peabody, Shane Burns and Mike Florence were all appointed to three-year terms. Terms are staggered for the ten member committee.

Peabody was reappointed to his second, but first full term and serves on the District 2 seat for Warren.

Shane Burns was reappointed to his second term and serves on the On-Airport Business seat.

Mike Florence was appointed to his first three-year term and serves on the South Thomaston seat. Florence was nominated by the South Thomaston Select  Board. Florence served on the old Knox County Regional Airport Committee until it was dissolved in 2004. He has served on the South Thomaston Select Board and several town committees.

Jeff Northgraves, Knox County Airport manager, said with the coming of spring the airport could hopefully start work on its runway extensions.

"The main project is we are going to extend the main runway 400 feet," he said. "Hopefully we'll start work in June. That's our plan. We're going to shut down the runway for two weeks and get it done in June."

Northgraves said if the work cannot be completed in June they would have to wait until late September.

"That is not our preference, to wait until September." he said. "The project should take about two weeks to complete for most of the work. We'll need to go back and do some repainting and other work later on, but most of it should be done in two weeks."

Northgraves said airport traffic increases in late June and early July which is why the timing is important.

"We put it out for bid and the bids are due the end on April," he said. "On the first on May we have to have our grant in to the FAA. It can take them from a week to ten days to three weeks to two months to approve it. The only thing that will stop us in June is if they are late approving the grant."

You can follow the airport, its committees and runway bids here: http://www.knoxcountymaine.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={CC504E7C-164D-470F-B75E-5569CACFD927}