Wyle will supervise an estimated $22-million, nine-year noise mitigation project that will be funded at 95 percent by the Federal Aviation Administration. The city and state fill finance the remaining 5 percent.

The project is expected to begin by spring, but Barnes said the move to launch preliminary work is necessary now.

"Currently the federal government is operating under a continuing resolution authority position and, as a result, FAA grant funding for our project will not be available until late March," Barnes said.

"We have already held preliminary meetings with the community - and especially our neighbors - and we need to begin the mitigation process to establish a positive outreach to those who border our airport," the manager said.

Plans by Target Corp. to build an estimated $100-million distribution center between Falcon Drive and North Road are on hold because of the economy, city officials have said. The company completed the airport land purchase last March.

The $751,000 must be used by the Airport Commission for airport-related projects and cannot be used by the city in general.

Barnes said noise mitigation is an approved airport project. The $60,000 represents a portion of the city's cost of the project, he said.

The noise project will spend about $2.5 million annually over the next eight to nine years and Wyle will receive an estimated $1.9 million over the first three years, Barnes said.

Acoustical treatment to the 312 homes within the 65-decibel noise contour surrounding Barnes will provide windows, doors and installation of a fresh air system and central air conditioning. The average home upgrade is estimated at $40,000 to $50,000.