LANETT — The Lanett City Council took action on Monday to continue with the ongoing airport improvement project. Contracts were approved for Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Montgomery to continue as the project engineer and for Evergreen Erosion Control, Opelika, Ala. to pave the new runway.

The existing 3,300-foot runway is being replaced by a new one that’s some 4,400 feet long. That should be long enough to land private jets for companies like John Soules Foods. Evergreen Erosion Control submitted the low bid of approximately $1.7 million.

Ryan Pearce, GM&C’s regional airport engineer, was present at Monday’s council meeting for an update on the airport project. He said that the bid approved by the council on Monday is for both the paving and lighting of the new runway.

“Hopefully, we can get that done by the end of the current year,” he said.

The airport project is on a schedule to be completed and for it to be reopened in early 2019.

Lanett Senior Center Director Tammy Hollis was present to thank the council for its support of the Saturday, June 9 Senior Citizens Appreciation Day.

“The attendance was great,” she said. “There was a total of 64 seniors present. When the staff and city employees are added in that bumps the number up to around 80 people. All the seniors could talk about on Monday on how special the event was and they’d like to have it again next year.”

Hollis said she wanted to give a special thank you to Council Member Tony Malone, Deborah Gilbert, Kellie Walton, Tony Chandler, Sharon Brooks and other representatives of the city who played big parts in the event being as successful as it was.

“We had lots of food, such as hot dogs and hamburgers with all the trimmings,” Hollis said. “We also had some wonderful singing. Kathryn Grady did a great job in leading everyone in ‘This Little Light of Mine,’ which is one of my favorites. She has such a powerful voice, and everyone loved what she did. Jackie Varner and John Flournoy Jr. and family performed a number of songs. We loved it and hope they come back. The seniors would love an encore.”

Hollis thanked J. Smith Lanier Insurance and Kroger for prizes they donated for a drawing.

“Because of this event, we have two new seniors coming to the center every day and socializing with the other seniors,” Hollis added. “Anyone out there who lives in Lanett, is 60 years of age or older and retired has an invitation to come to the center. It’s here for you, and we know you will enjoy being a part of the fun we have every day.”

The council approved the transfer of a liquor license from El Jimador, Inc. to Valencia Enterprises, Inc. The request was cleared by the Lanett Police Department and approved in a unanimous vote of the council.