A former sewage retention basin on Van Meter Road may provide a flying good time for a Central Kentucky club this spring.
The Winchester Municipal Utilities Commission approved an agreement with the Central Kentucky Float Flyers on Thursday, allowing club members to fly model float planes on the lake during warm weather months.
“It’s another way of giving back to some of our citizens,” said Commission Chairman Mike Anderson. “They use WMU for their sewer and water and so forth, and it’s an opportunity for them to be able to utilize something in return.”
For years, the basin retained untreated sewage for natural decomposition as part of WMU’s wastewater operations. Once officials activated the new Strodes Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, the basin was no longer needed. Water quality has since returned to safe levels.
In a presentation to the commission in September, representatives from the Float Flyers said about 19 club members fly on regional lakes and indoors at the Winchester YMCA. The basin would provide a much closer location for outdoor flying, however.
Club leaders hope the added convenience will boost membership. They also want to hold an invitational fly-in once or twice a year, which could raise money for a local charity.
Thursday’s agreement allows flyers to access the basin up to four times each month. In exchange, the club must provide insurance for activities and conduct at least two educational sessions with local students each year.
“The community is going to benefit from the fact that these people are performing educational classes in our schools for our students,” Anderson said. “It will also bring a limited number of people into the community that will spend money for these events and so forth.”
The Float Flyers and the Winchester Board of Commissioners must approve the agreement before it takes effect.
In other business:
— The commission approved a deal with Benefit Insurance Marketing to provide insurance brokerage services for 2011. WMU Commissioner Jimmy Powell voted for the agreement, but also said the utility needs to consider insurance options earlier and more thoroughly before selecting agreements for 2012. The commission voted to begin considering the issue by summer this year.
— The design and construction of water and sanitary sewer infrastructure was approved for the new LifePoint Hospital on Lexington Road and the new Clark County high school on Boonesboro Road.
— An officials excuse was approved for WMU Commissioner Betty Berryman, who was absent Thursday night.
Contact Mike Wynn at mwynn@winchestersun.com.
