New airport fuel facility is approved

The Cairo City Council accepted the lone bid for a new fuel facility at the Cairo Municipal Airport Monday night. The project is primarily being funded with federal dollars, according to city manager Chris Addleton.

The council voted unanimously to accept the bid of $184,495 from L&T Inc. of Lyons, Ga for the replacement of the existing 10,000 gallon underground fuel storage tank and installation  of a new 12,000 gallon above ground storage tank and all associated piping and fuel dispensing equipment.

According to Addleton, three firms pulled plans on the project, but only one submitted a bid. “We were pleased with the price we received,” the city manager said.

“You were expecting to be more than that? That’s a lot of money to me,” Councilman James H. (Jimmy) Douglas said.

Addleton agreed that it sounded like a lot, but he said it is a complex project. He said that 90 percent of the project will be funded by the federal government, five percent from the state and five percent from local funds.

In other business Monday night, the council:

•Approved a special event permit for the Community Outreach and Easter Egg Hunt event at Davis Park to be held Saturday, April 3 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. The event is sponsored by the J.E. Miller Outreach.

•Approved a special event permit for the East Egg Drop at the Cairo Municipal Airport to be held Saturday, April 3 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. The event is being sponsored by the Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce.

•Adopted the new mural ordinance.

•Approved 2021 alcoholic beverage license renewals for Walgreen’s, Easy Stop Cairo, L&M Food Mart, One Convenient Stop #7, Quick Buys #1, One Convenient Stop #1, One Convenient Stop #4, Susie Q’s #30, Trawick’s, Quick Buys 108, Hi Way Bait & Tackle, Cairo Travel Center, and Casa Grande Bar & Grill. Councilman Demario Byrden abstained citing a conflict of interest regarding Casa Grande Bar & Grill, for whom he said he does work.