FARMINGTON — City Council will hear a request to authorize funding to correct issues found at Four Corners Regional Airport.

The needs were realized after an annual Federal Aviation Administration inspection found chipping and cracking on the airport tarmac and discovered that airport signage was not in compliance with regulations.

The two-part request also provides funding for the purchase of mobile radios in order to bring the city into compliance with Federal Communications Commission regulations.

Assistant City Manager Bob Campbell noted that the chips and cracks on the airport tarmac present a risk to aircraft. He explained that under normal circumstances, repairs would not be needed for two more years, but that the damage found was bad enough to warrant immediate repair.

The FAA also found airport signage not to be in compliance with regulations.

"We used a vendor that wasn't FAA approved," Campbell said.

Although the signs will have to be replaced, he noted that the current signage still displays the correct information and is still completely readable.

City Council will also hear a request to fund the purchase of about 200 mobile radios, although the exact number is not yet set. The request comes as the final part of a city effort to comply with the FCC's narrowbanding mandate by replacing radio systems for the streets division; traffic division, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs department; Red Apple Transit; Four Corners Regional

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Airport; Building Maintenance and Animal Control.

Narrowbanding is an FCC effort to ensure more efficient use of a high frequency and ultra high frequency radio bandwidth. The mandate requires all VHF and UHF public safety, industrial and business operators of land mobile radio systems to a 12.5 kHz efficiency system by Jan. 1, 2013.

Campbell noted that city's electronic utility, fire and police department radio systems have already been updated to comply with the mandate.

"Each department currently has its own system and frequencies," he said. "The new system is going to be compatible with the existing electric utility, fire department and police department systems."

Campbell added that each department will have its own operating frequency for day-to-day operation. However, the new system will link each department and division so they can communicate during emergency situations.