The Development Corporation of Snyder (DCOS) board of directors tabled action Thursday on establishing a drone zone in the SnTx Industrial Park.
Board member Dennis Westmoreland said he would like to see the final version of a sign that would be placed in the area, which is on the north side of Kyle Irwin Construction’s yard. Westmoreland also wanted to review a grant application for the U.S. Department of Agriculture the DCOS is filing to purchase a flight simulator for the new Winston Field hangar.
DCOS Executive Director Bill Lavers said drones cannot be flown at the airport facility, but can be flown in the industrial park. He said the drone zone will be used with the flight simulator curriculum, once it is developed.
The board is scheduled to meet next week to review the final grant and the sign’s design. During that meeting, directors may vote to establish the drone zone.
Lavers said the DCOS will have to construct a parking lot in the area and place boulders to keep people from driving on the non-parking areas. He said the total cost of the project would be under $20,000 and would be considered the DCOS’s “in-kind” funding for the grant.
When asked what would happen if a prospect wanted to buy the land, Lavers replied, “There would be no more drone zone. We would move it.”
Lavers said the DCOS could sell the land for $2,200 to $2,500 per acre.
Lavers said he will work with the Snyder Police Department and Scurry County Sheriff’s Office to make sure drone laws are enforced. One law that must be followed is anyone piloting a drone under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult.
Lavers said the drone zone would also be open to remote control airplanes and helicopters.
According to Lavers, Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, plans to offer a resolution during the 2017 legislative session that states Snyder is the “First Drone Zone Friendly City in Texas.”
The board elected new officers on Thursday. Mark McClain will be the president and Westmoreland will serve as vice president. Joe Coronado will continue to serve as secretary/treasurer.
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