The Hays City Commission unanimously accepted a competitive construction bid to expand the passenger parking lot at Hays Regional Airport, citing rising enplanements and contractual parking obligations for tenants.

Airport Director Jamie Salter said the airport’s paid‑parking capacity has not kept pace with current and anticipated demand as enplanements climbed after SkyWest began service in 2014. Bids opened July 29 produced five submissions, and Salter recommended accepting Morgan Brothers Construction’s low bid of $248,019.98. The project budgeted $350,000 for design and construction; staff requested authority for total project expenditures not to exceed $295,519.98 to be paid from the airport improvement fund.

Salter explained leased and reserved spaces for rental cars, FBO, SkyWest and TSA reduce net passenger parking capacity and reiterated that the expansion responds to existing demand rather than speculative growth. “This expansion is necessary to meet current needs, and we did build in for future needs as well,” Salter said. The work will begin in September and is expected to be completed in 2025.

Commission discussion asked about the stability of essential air service and projected enplanements; Salter said SkyWest had bid to continue service and the city expects stability for the next three years under the carrier’s contract. Commissioners moved to accept the bid and authorize the project; the motion passed 5‑0.

The motion approved acceptance of the Morgan Brothers Construction bid at $248,019.98 and set an authorized project ceiling of $295,519.98 from the airport improvement fund. Staff will coordinate construction phasing to avoid staging on paved passenger areas; any contractor staging would occur on the gravel area currently used by contractors.