Steve Andres, airport division manager, briefed the Aurora Finance Committee on Oct. 30 about 2024 highlights and two decision packages for 2025: clearing approximately 17 acres of trees north of the east2Dwest runway to reduce wildlife habitat and rehabbing a corroded salt storage shed used on the land side.

Andres said the wooded area has attracted deer and coyotes, creating runway hazards. He described a recent small bird strike and noted that standard wildlife deterrents such as propane-fired noisemakers can lose effectiveness: "After the first half an hour, the geese are accustomed to that, and they know they're sitting there waiting for it to go off. So that's not incredibly effective," Andres said. The proposed tree clearing was presented as a wildlife-mitigation measure to reduce runway incursions by larger animals.

Staff also said they will go out to bid in the near term for rehabilitation of the airfield lighting vault and replacement of its automatic standby generator; those work items are funded through federal dollars and are being bid through the state and federal procurement channels. Andres said earlier purchases of snow-removal equipment were completed in 2024 but that several paving projects were delayed by the state and remain planned.

On the salt-shed project, Andres showed photos of corroded metal siding and structural steel affected by salt exposure. He said the building stores road salt used only on the land side (salt use on the airfield is restricted by FAA rules) and that the project includes structural repairs and new siding.

Aldermen asked where displaced wildlife would go after tree clearing. Andres and other officials said they could not specify the animals' destination: when habitat is removed animals generally disperse to nearby fields or residential areas. The committee also heard that hangar occupancy at the airport is high and that private hangars and fixed-base operators operate on leased airport land. Alex Alexander, chief management officer, said two fixed-base operators currently serve the field and he declined to comment further on any private operator27s business plans.

The committee took no formal votes on airport requests during the meeting; staff will return with procurement and project details as design and bidding proceed.